FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1412

C 25 L 11

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Regarding mathematics end-of-course assessments.

Sponsors: Representatives Santos, Dammeier, Probst, Liias, Kelley, Kenney and Van De Wege; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

House Committee on Education

House Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

Background:

In 2008 legislation was enacted directing the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to replace the comprehensive state high school mathematics assessment with a series of end-of-course assessments (EOCs) beginning in the 2010-11 school year. The EOCs are to cover standards for first-year mathematics (Algebra I and Integrated I) and also second-year mathematics (Geometry and Integrated II). For purposes of high school graduation, students in the graduating class of 2013 and 2014 are permitted to use the results of the EOC for the first year of mathematics plus the EOC for the second year of mathematics, or the results from a comprehensive mathematics assessment. Starting with the class of 2015, only the EOCs will be used as the state high school mathematics assessment. Students must meet the state standard on both mathematics EOCs to earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA), which is required for graduation starting with the class of 2013.

The comprehensive mathematics assessment was offered to students in the 10th grade. The EOCs are designed to be offered to students after they take the respective mathematics course. The SPI estimates that approximately 60,000 10th grade students in the class of 2013 took Algebra I or Integrated I as freshmen and are enrolled in Geometry or Integrated II in the spring of 2011. Some took the first year of high school mathematics in eighth grade. This class will be expected to take two mathematics EOCs in the spring of 2011 in order to meet graduation requirements. A comprehensive high school mathematics assessment is no longer being offered.

Summary:

Students in the graduating classes of 2013 and 2014 must meet the state standard on one high school EOC mathematics assessment rather than two in order to earn a CAA, which is required for graduation. The option for these students to use results from a comprehensive mathematics assessment is replaced by an option to use results from a retake assessment. It is clarified that students, beginning with the class of 2015, have the option to meet the state standard on both high school EOC mathematics assessments or use results from one or more retake assessments to earn a CAA.

Votes on Final Passage: