Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Education Committee

HB 2231

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Removes requirements for the state assessment system to include an assessment of writing.
Makes the assessment of high school mathematics based on one end-of-course assessment rather than two.
Removes authority for the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to develop high school science assessments in subjects in addition to Biology.
Repeals authority for the SPI to phase-in required implementation of a kindergarten readiness assessment process in schools with state-funded all-day kindergarten.
Removes the state high school assessments as a high school graduation requirement and repeals all references to the Certificate of Academic Achievement and Certificate of Individual Achievement.

Background:

Federal Assessment Requirements. The federal No Child Left Behind Act requires states to assess student progress in reading and mathematics in each of grades three through eight and at least one high school grade. States must also assess students in science in at least one elementary, middle, and high school grade. The federal law does not require states to use the results of high school assessments for purposes of graduation.

Washington Assessment Requirements. In addition to the federally-required assessments, students in Washington take a writing assessment in grades four, seven, and 10. Effective in 2011 the high school mathematics assessment has been redesigned as two end-of-course tests (EOCs), one in Algebra I/Integrated I and one in Geometry/Integrated II.

The Legislature also directed development of an EOC for high school science. Legislation enacted in 2011 authorized only one science EOC in Biology, but left open the possibility that the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) may develop EOCs in additional science subjects in the future.

Legislation enacted in 2011 also established a kindergarten readiness assessment process called the Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WAKIDs), which will be required beginning in 2012-13 in schools offering state-funded all-day kindergarten. The SPI and the Department of Early Learning were required to conduct a fairness and bias review before implementing the WAKIDs.

Washington Graduation Requirements. Starting with the class of 2008, students are required to meet the state standard on the high school assessment in reading, writing, and mathematics to receive a Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA). Students in special education who are not appropriately assessed using the state assessment can earn a Certificate of Individual Achievement (CIA).

The CAA or CIA were to be required for high school graduation starting with the class of 2008, but the 2007 Legislature enacted a temporary exception for students who do not meet the state standard in mathematics. Until 2013, these students can still graduate as long as they have met the state standard on the reading and writing assessment and take additional mathematics courses.

The classes of 2013 and 2014 must meet the state standard in at least one of the math EOCs, and the class of 2015 must meet the standard in both math EOCs to earn a CAA or CIA. Also starting with the class of 2015, students will have to meet the state standard on the Biology EOC for graduation.

Students have multiple opportunities to retake the high school assessments. The Legislature has also authorized several objective alternative assessments for students who are unsuccessful on the high school assessment after at least one attempt.

Summary of Bill:

Washington Assessment Requirements. The requirement for the state assessment system to include an assessment of writing in elementary, middle, and high school grade levels is removed. Other references to a state writing assessment are removed.

High school mathematics is assessed using one EOC in Algebra I/Integrated I. The SPI is no longer authorized to develop additional high school science assessments in subjects other than Biology when directed by the Legislature.

The authority for the OSPI to phase-in required implementation of the WAKIDs in schools with state-funded all-day kindergarten is removed, and a requirement for a fairness and bias review of the WAKIDs is also repealed.

Washington Graduation Requirements. The requirement that, in order to graduate, students must earn a CAA by meeting the state standard on the high school assessment in reading, writing, mathematics, and science is repealed. Students in special education no longer have to earn a CIA. Laws are repealed pertaining to retaking the high school assessment; creating objective alternative assessments; and requiring students who do not pass the high school assessment in mathematics to take additional mathematics courses until 2013. All references to the CAA and CIA are eliminated.