HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 6134
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. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
Education
Title: An act relating to modifying definitions for alternative learning experience courses.
Brief Description: Modifying definitions for alternative learning experience courses.
Sponsors: Senators Wellman, Zeiger and Hasegawa; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Education: 2/19/18, 2/22/18 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 18 members: Representatives Santos, Chair; Dolan, Vice Chair; Stonier, Vice Chair; Harris, Ranking Minority Member; Muri, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Caldier, Hargrove, Johnson, Kilduff, Lovick, McCaslin, Ortiz-Self, Senn, Slatter, Steele, Stokesbary and Valdez.
Staff: Ethan Moreno (786-7386).
Background:
Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) programs provide a way for students to be enrolled in public education without being obligated to meet the in-class seat-time requirements for regular instruction. Instruction in ALE programs may be delivered via online courses, remote courses, or site-based courses. Courses offered through ALE programs may be provided to students residing inside or outside of the district offering the course, and may be provided to full or part-time students. Each student participating in an ALE program must have a written student learning plan that is designed to meet the student's individual educational needs and is developed and approved by a certificated teacher.
An ALE course is defined as a course, or coursework for grades kindergarten through 8, that is a delivery method for the state's program of basic education, and that is:
provided in whole or in part independently from a regular classroom setting or schedule, but may include some components of direct instruction;
supervised, monitored, assessed, evaluated, and documented by a certificated teacher employed by the school district or under contract as permitted by applicable rules; and
provided in accordance with a written student learning plan that is implemented pursuant to the school district's policy and rules adopted by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
As specified in statutes governing ALE courses, a "remote course" is defined as an ALE course that is not an online course where the student has in-person instructional contact time for less than 20 percent of the total weekly time for the course. No minimum in-person instructional contact time is required for remote courses. A "site-based course" is an ALE course where the student has in-person instructional contact time for at least 20 percent of the total weekly time for the course.
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Summary of Bill:
The ALE definitions of "remote course" and "site-based course" are modified by, in part, removing references to the percentage of in-person instructional contact time. "Remote course" is defined as an ALE course that is not an online course where the written student learning plan for the course does not include a requirement for in-person instructional contact time. No minimum in-person instructional contact time is required for remote courses. "Site-based course" is defined as an ALE course where the written student learning plan for the course includes a requirement for in-person instructional contact time.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) This is a technical revision bill. The goal of the bill is to clarify and simplify definitions for ALE courses and to make it simpler for programs to report student data and for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to track the performance of ALE students that complete courses without teachers.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Rhett Nelson, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.