HOUSE BILL REPORT

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.

As Reported by House Committee On:

Education

Title: An act relating to updating the term essential academic learning requirements to state learning standards to reflect current terminology.

Brief Description: Updating the term essential academic learning requirements to state learning standards to reflect current terminology.

Sponsors: Representative Dolan; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Education: 1/24/19, 1/31/19 [DP], 1/13/20, 1/23/20 [DPS].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

Replaces statutory references to the "essential academic learning requirements" with "state learning standards."

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 16 members: Representatives Santos, Chair; Dolan, Vice Chair; Paul, Vice Chair; Steele, Ranking Minority Member; Volz, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Caldier, Callan, Corry, Harris, Ortiz-Self, Rude, Stonier, Thai, Valdez and Ybarra.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 1 member: Representative McCaslin, Assistant Ranking Minority Member.

Staff: Ethan Moreno (786-7386).

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 Chapter 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.

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Summary of Substitute 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.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The second substitute bill removes sections that were amended in 2019 and replaced the term "essential academic learning requirements" with "state learning standards."

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: 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 another good government bill that passed the House of Representatives in 2019 but did not pass the Senate. It is good to have the statutory terms align with the terms used in policy and practice.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Dolan, prime sponsor; and Jenny Plaja, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.