Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Higher Education Committee

SB 5122

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

Encourages the public baccalaureate institutions to use multiple methods to determine whether a student must enroll in a precollege course.
Requires the public baccalaureate institutions to post all available options for course placement on their websites and in their admissions materials.
Requires the Student Achievement Council to encourage the use of multiple methods to determine if a student must enroll in a precollege course in setting the minimum college admission standards.

Background:

Precollege Courses.

A student determined as unprepared for credit-bearing college courses may be placed into a precollege course. Precollege courses are developmental or remedial courses that students may need to complete before being able to enroll in college-level courses at the 100 level or above. Precollege courses do not count towards degree or certificate completion.

Senate Bill 5712.

In 2013 the Legislature passed Senate Bill 5712 which required the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges to encourage the colleges to use multiple measures to determine whether a student must enroll in a precollege course. The bill also required the community and technical colleges to post all the available options for course placement on their websites and in their admissions materials.

Smarter Balanced Assessments.

In 2011 Washington adopted Common Core State Standards (CCSS) to be fully implemented in the 2014-15 academic year. The CCSS are core concepts and procedures for English language arts, literacy, and mathematics that are meant to prepare students for college, career, and life. In addition to the CCSS, Washington will participate in Smarter Balanced assessments beginning in the 2014-15 academic year. Smarter Balanced assessments are aligned with the CCSS and include summative and interim assessments. The assessments are designed to show student progression toward college readiness. The public baccalaureate and community and technical colleges have agreed to use the 11th grade Smarter Balanced assessment for the graduating classes of 2016 through 2018. Students who score a level 3 or 4 on the assessment in mathematics and English language arts will be exempt from remedial or precollege coursework without further testing as long as the student meets other college admission standards.

The Student Achievement Council.

The Student Achievement Council (Council) is the state agency tasked with advancing educational opportunities and attainment. The Council has the responsibility to set minimum college admission standards for the public baccalaureate institutions as a part of its goal to improve student transitions and success.

Summary of Bill:

The public baccalaureate institutions may use multiple measures to determine whether a student must enroll in a precollege course. These measures may be placement tests, the SAT, high school transcripts, college transcripts, or initial class performance. The public baccalaureate institutions must post all the available options for course placement on their websites and in their admissions materials.

The Council is to encourage the use of multiple measures to determine whether a student must enroll in a precollege course as a part of minimum college admission standards for the public baccalaureate institutions.