BILL REQ. #:  S-3689.1 

Read first time 01/17/12.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.

     AN ACT Relating to the statewide high school assessment in science; amending RCW 28A.655.068; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   In section 1, chapter 22, Laws of 2011 1st sp. sess., the legislature stated that it "does not wish to narrow the high school science curriculum to a singular focus on biology." The legislature finds that the unusual reality of only one science end-of-course test, namely in biology, required for graduation for the class of 2015 does narrow the focus and creates an unintended consequence that runs counter to other educational goals of the state of Washington.
     The high stakes graduation requirement for biology has resulted in some schools letting go physics instructors in favor of biology instructors. The artificial emphasis on biology caused by the graduation requirement also prevents teachers from spending time teaching nonbiology science subjects that are known to be necessary for students in today's world. Science teachers are experiencing the pressure from the high stakes nature of the one biology test, which creates an overwhelming concentration of staff, time, and resources into that one subject to the exclusion of physical, earth, and space sciences, and engineering.
     The legislature is also aware that next generation science standards developed from the framework for science education will be released for adoption in the fall of 2012 and that this could make necessary further revisiting of the entire assessment process for science in this state.
     The legislature therefore intends to set aside the biology end-of-course exam as a graduation requirement until such time as the state has the funding and resources to develop and implement a second science end-of-course or integrated science exam or until the decision is made about how to assess the next generation science standards, which are being released for consideration for adoption in the fall of 2012.

Sec. 2   RCW 28A.655.068 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 22 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Beginning in the 2011-12 school year, the statewide high school assessment in science shall be an end-of-course assessment for biology that measures the state standards for life sciences, in addition to systems, inquiry, and application as they pertain to life sciences.
     (2) The superintendent of public instruction may develop science end-of-course assessments in subjects in addition to biology for purposes of RCW 28A.655.061, when so directed by the legislature.
     (3) The superintendent of public instruction may participate with consortia of multiple states as common student learning standards and assessments in science are developed. The superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the state board of education, may modify the essential academic learning requirements and statewide student assessments in science, including the high school assessment, according to the multistate common student learning standards and assessments as long as the education committees of the legislature have opportunities for review before the modifications are adopted, as provided under RCW 28A.655.070.
     (((4) The statewide high school assessment under this section shall be used to demonstrate that a student meets the state standards in the science content area of the statewide student assessment for purposes of RCW 28A.655.061.))