BILL REQ. #:  H-5336.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/05/08.   

     AN ACT Relating to creating a kindergarten readiness assessment; adding a new section to chapter 43.215 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds compelling evidence from research and from the efforts of innovative school districts in Washington that when students enter the K-12 public schools ready to learn, their progress and achievement is greatly enhanced. The legislature further finds that the foundational skills for kindergarten success can be assessed using a variety of assessment tools. Many school districts are using a kindergarten entry assessment and are working closely with early learning providers and parents in their communities. However, because there is no common kindergarten entry assessment, there is no statewide baseline for students' readiness to learn. Such a baseline is critical for developing new early interventions with struggling students and for measuring the impact of such initiatives as full-day kindergarten. A common kindergarten entry assessment could also serve as an accountability and quality measure for early learning programs.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.215 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department and the office of the superintendent of public instruction, jointly and in collaboration with thrive by five Washington, shall study and make recommendations to the governor and the legislature regarding implementation of a statewide kindergarten entry assessment. The study and development of recommendations shall include consultation with the following:
     (a) The Washington early learning advisory council;
     (b) The Washington association for the education of young children;
     (c) The foundation for early learning;
     (d) Washington Indian tribes including, but not limited to, the confederated tribes of the Yakama nation and the Colville confederated tribes;
     (e) Early childhood educators;
     (f) Kindergarten teachers; and
     (g) Specialists in early childhood assessments.
     (2) In conducting the study and developing the recommendations, the department shall examine:
     (a) Research on the critical knowledge and skills, including social skills, for successful entry and progress in kindergarten; and
     (b) Examples of assessments used by schools and early learning providers in Washington state and in other states;
     (3) The study and recommendations shall:
     (a) Identify a preferred kindergarten entry assessment that addresses the following knowledge and skills, at a minimum:
     (i) Letter and sound recognition;
     (ii) Numbers and number concepts; and
     (iii) Social skills for the school environment;
     (b) Specify a plan for use of the assessment in a pilot phase and a voluntary use phase, and a time certain when school districts must offer the assessment;
     (c) Describe a recommended methodology for conducting the assessments, including a plan for training or professional development of individuals who will administer the assessment to ensure reliable and comparable results;
     (d) Describe a process for reporting results of the assessment to parents, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, and the department of early learning in a common format; and
     (e) Propose a plan for communicating with early learning providers and parents about the knowledge and skills covered by the assessment.
     (4) In collaboration with thrive by five Washington and in consultation with others, the department and the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall: Analyze how the assessment can be used to improve instruction to be responsive to the needs and strengths of individual students entering kindergarten; whether and how the assessment results can be used to improve the early learning and K-12 systems, as well as the transition between systems; and the costs of the assessment, including the time required to administer the assessment.
     (5) The kindergarten entry assessment selected must be sensitive to cultural and socioeconomic differences influencing the development of young children. The assessment shall not be used to screen or otherwise preclude children from entering kindergarten if they are otherwise eligible.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The department of early learning and the office of the superintendent of public instruction jointly shall submit a report with recommendations for implementing the kindergarten entry assessment to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by October 15, 2009.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:
     The office of the superintendent of public instruction and the department of early learning, jointly and in collaboration with thrive by five Washington, shall study and make recommendations to the governor and the legislature regarding implementation of a statewide kindergarten entry assessment, in accordance with section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2008, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.