BILL REQ. #:  H-1391.2 

Read first time 02/08/11.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to delaying adoption and implementation of the common core standards; amending RCW 28A.655.071; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature recognizes the hard work and dedication of the mathematics advisory panel, the mathematics consultants hired by the state board of education, and the members and staff of the state board of education and the office of the superintendent of public instruction in revising the state mathematics learning standards, which were finalized in 2008. External third-party evaluations and national comparisons have identified Washington's new mathematics learning standards as among the highest quality in the nation. Over the last two biennia, the state and school districts have invested millions of dollars in providing professional development for teachers, developing and aligning curriculum, and purchasing more aligned textbooks and materials. Teachers and students have been preparing for new mathematics assessments that are also aligned with the standards and will be required for high school graduation starting with the class of 2013.
     (2) Therefore, the legislature finds that any change to the state's learning standards in mathematics in the short term would be highly inefficient and disruptive for the school system, staff, and students alike. The legislature further finds that the current budget situation for both the state and local school districts precludes spending precious resources on making additional, unnecessary changes in learning standards.

Sec. 2   RCW 28A.655.071 and 2010 c 235 s 601 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) ((By August 2, 2010)) No earlier than July 1, 2013, the superintendent of public instruction may revise the state essential academic learning requirements authorized under RCW 28A.655.070 for mathematics, reading, writing, and communication by ((provisionally)) adopting a common set of standards for students in grades kindergarten through twelve. The revised state essential academic learning requirements may be substantially identical with the standards developed by a multistate consortium in which Washington participated, must be consistent with the requirements of RCW 28A.655.070, and may include additional standards if the additional standards do not exceed fifteen percent of the standards for each content area. However, the superintendent of public instruction shall not take steps to implement the ((provisionally)) adopted standards ((until the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate have an opportunity to review the standards)) before July 1, 2013.
     (2) By January 1, ((2011)) 2013, the superintendent of public instruction shall submit to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate((:
     (a) A detailed comparison of the provisionally adopted standards and the state essential academic learning requirements as of June 10, 2010, including the comparative level of rigor and specificity of the standards and the implications of any identified differences; and
     (b))) an estimated timeline and costs to the state and to school districts to implement the ((provisionally)) adopted standards, including providing necessary training, realignment of curriculum, adjustment of state assessments, and other actions.
     (3) If the 2013 legislature determines that the superintendent of public instruction has shown that implementation of the common set of standards under this section is prudent and beneficial for students and the citizens of the state, the superintendent may implement the revisions to the essential academic learning requirements under this section after ((the 2011 legislative session unless otherwise directed)) July 1, 2013, if so authorized by the legislature.