BILL REQ. #:  H-4983.1 

Read first time 01/29/08.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to examining the feasibility of using other assessments for federal school accountability purposes; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The state board of education shall contract with an independent third party to examine the feasibility of using nationally available assessments, such as the Iowa test of basic skills or other similar assessments, in lieu of the Washington assessment of student learning for purposes of school and school district accountability in grades three through eight under the federal no child left behind act. The contractor shall objectively analyze:
     (a) The steps the state would need to take to secure approval of such an assessment from the United States department of education for purposes of federal accountability, including the extent that Washington's current standards, the Washington assessment of student learning, and/or the national assessment might require some adjustment;
     (b) The short-term and longer-term costs and potential cost savings of using such an assessment, including costs to the state and to school districts and including development and transition costs;
     (c) Potential advantages such as reduced testing time, opportunity to compare results to other states, and other issues; and
     (d) Any potential disadvantages or trade-offs.
     (2) The contractor shall present findings and results of the analysis to the state board of education, the governor, the superintendent of public instruction, and the education committees of the legislature by December 1, 2008.