Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Education Committee

HB 1120

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.

Background:

The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) is responsible for developing and revising the state learning standards that identify the knowledge and skills all public school students need to know and be able to do based on four basic education learning goals established by the Legislature. The SPI is also responsible for adopting student learning standards aligned to the state learning standards as grade-level content expectations. In consultation with the State Board of Education, the SPI is further charged with developing, maintaining, and revising a statewide academic assessment system that is designed to determine if students have mastered the state learning standards.

School districts must teach content aligned to the state learning standards when the content area is required or offered, but districts do not ratify or formally adopt the standards, as curriculum choices are, with limited exceptions, determined by school districts.

Prior to 2019, the term "essential academic learning standards" was used exclusively in statute to identify the state-level learning standards. Legislation adopted last session (Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1599, enacted as ch. 252, Laws of 2019) changed numerous statutory references from "essential academic learning requirements" to "state learning standards," but many references to "essential academic learning requirements" remain in law. The content of the learning standards was not affected by the name change.

Summary of Bill:

Statutory references to the "essential academic learning requirements" are replaced with "state learning standards." The terminology change is made through modifications to numerous statutes, including revisions to provisions governing:

the general contents of the instructional program of basic education;
curriculum development by public schools; and
the criteria for school library information and technology programs.

Selected references to the "Washington Assessment of Student Learning," the name applied to discontinued statewide student assessments, are revised to the "statewide student assessment." Additionally, definitions for the Washington Commission on Student Learning, an entity that was discontinued in 1999, are repealed.