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Below
is a summary of House and Senate bills that are still “alive” as of
April 16, 2007. Many of the
issues related to our priorities are not reflected in individual bills,
but in the budget requests. K-12
Funding HB
1280 - CURRENT STATUS – PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE, AWAITING ACTION BY
GOVERNOR TITLE: An act relating to
the use of school district capital projects funds for technology. SUMMARY: Expands
authorized uses of school district capital projects funds to include
application and modernization of technology systems.
HB 1285 - CURRENT STATUS – AWAITING ACTION
IN SENATE TITLE: An act relating to
recodifying the basic education program. SUMMARY: Recodifies into
one chapter those sections of the common school code that were included in
the Basic Education Act of 1977 and those sections of the code the courts
have held to be part of the state's constitutional obligation to provide a
program of basic education. SB
5114 - CURRENT STATUS – PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE, AWAITING ACTION BY
GOVERNOR TITLE:
Changing student transportation funding. SUMMARY: OFM, in
consultation with OSPI and JLARC, will contract for development of two
options for a pupil funding method and report to the Governor and
legislative committees by December 1, 2008.
SB 5267 - CURRENT STATUS – AWAITNG ACTION
IN HOUSE TITLE:
Providing for the use of school district capital funds for technology SUMMARY:
Money in each school district’s capital projects fund that is
acquired from sources other than bond sales may be used for certain
technology expenses. SB
5627 – CURRENT STATUS – PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE, SENATE REFUSED TO
CONCUR WITH HOUSE AMENDMENTS, AWAITING ACTION IN HOUSE TITLE: Requiring a review and
development of basic education funding. SUMMARY: A joint task force is formed with the Washington Institute for Public Policy to review the current definition of basic education and funding formulas and develop a new definition and funding structure that aligns with the Washington Learns report and the basic education provisions in current law. The final report is due by January 1, 2008. SB
5841 – CURRENT STATUS – PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE, SENATE REFUSED TO
CONCUR WITH HOUSE AMENDMENTS, AWAITING ACTION IN HOUSE TITLE:
Enhancing student learning opportunities SUMMARY: A phase-in
effort for voluntary all-day kindergarten is initiated, beginning in the
2007-2008 school year. Resources
provided will support all of the students enrolled in kindergarten at the
highest poverty schools. Three
demonstration projects will implement a comprehensive kindergarten through
third grade foundation learning program.
SJM 8011 – CURRENT STATUS - PASSED HOUSE
AND SENATE TITLE: Petitioning
Congress to raise funding levels of the No Child Left Behind Act. SUMMARY: The substitute
asks the President, Congress, and the Governor of Washington are asked to
work together with state legislatures to raise the authorized funding
levels of the NCLBA and to make improvements to address the issues raised
by states about the Act. Math/Science
HB 1906 - CURRENT STATUS – PASSED HOUSE
AND SENATE TITLE: An act relating to
improving mathematics and science education. SUMMARY: Creates an
afterschool math support program with community-based organizations, a
math and science instructional coach program, and creates two new
alternative routes to teacher certification for mathematics and science
teachers. The bill also requires the State Board of Education to
adopt new math and science standards and to identify new curricula in
these areas. HB 2327 - CURRENT
STATUS – AWAITING
ACTION IN SENATE TITLE:
An act relating to a system of standards, instruction, and assessments for
mathematics and science. SUMMARY:
Allows certain students to graduate without a Certificate of Academic
Achievement (CAA) as a result of not passing the WASL mathematics section.
It also delays the requirement for passage of the science WASL to 2013.
The State Board of Education will adopt end-of-course assessments in
certain subjects. SB 5528 – CURRENT STATUS – AWAITING
ACTION IN HOUSE TITLE: Requiring a review of the
essential academic learning requirements in mathematics. SUMMARY:
The State Board of Education must establish an independent
mathematics review committee. The
committee is to review the current mathematics EALRs and recommend changes
to the Governor, Legislature, SBE and OSPI.
SB 5813 – CURRENT STATUS – DEAD, MAY BE
ATTACHED TO ANOTHER BILL TITLE:
Improving mathematics and science education SUMMARY:
The substitute bill requires OSPI to develop a mathematics and
science instructional coach project to support classroom teachers.
The State Board of Education must complete an independent review of
mathematics and science standards and essential academic learning
requirements. SBE must also
identify no more than three basic math and science curricula that align
with new standards. SBE will
revise math graduation requirements to include a minimum of three credits
for mathematics. The bill also
creates two conditional loan programs, one for para-educators and the
other for current teachers who would like mathematics or science
endorsements. SB
5955 – CURRENT STATUS – PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE, SENATE REFUSED TO
CONCUR WITH HOUSE AMENDMENTS, AWAITING ACTION IN HOUSE TITLE: Regarding educator
preparation, professional development, and compensation. SUMMARY: A public-private
partnership is established to implement the Simple
Majority HJR 4204 -
CURRENT STATUS – PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE TITLE:
Amending the Constitution to provide for a simple majority of voters
voting to authorize a school levy. SUMMARY:
Submits to the voters a proposed amendment to the Constitution so that
excess property tax levies for school districts are authorized by a simple
majority of voters voting in a levy election.
Bill is currently on second reading in Senate Rules. ESJR
8207 – CURRENT STATUS – IN SENATE “X” FILE (this means it did not
receive Senate approval prior to the cut-off, so it has been sent back to
Senate Rules) TITLE: Amending the
Constitution to provide for a simple majority of voters voting to
authorize a school levy. SUMMARY: Sends to the
people of Class
Size Please
see budget overviews for class size related budget requests. Other
HB 1050 - CURRENT STATUS – PASSED HOUSE
AND SENATE TITLE: An act relating to
allowing certain students with disabilities to participate in graduation
ceremonies. SUMMARY: Allows a
student receiving special education services to participate in high school
commencement exercises if the students has attended four years of high
school, has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that prescribes
continued special education or related services beyond the fourth year of
high school, and has completed the majority of their IEP goals.
HB
1051 - CURRENT STATUS – PASSED HOUSE AND
SENATE. HOUSE REFUSED TO
CONCUR WITH SENATE AMENDMENTS, AWAITING ACTION IN SENATE TITLE: An act relating to
high school completion programs. SUMMARY: Allows students
under 21 who have completed all graduation requirements except the
Certificate of Academic Achievement to enroll at no charge at a community
or technical program to earn a high school diploma. HB 1283 - CURRENT STATUS - AWAITING
ACTION IN SENATE TITLE: An act relating to
high school diplomas for persons who leave school before graduation to
serve in the SUMMARY: Expands to HOUSE BILL 1573 - CURRENT STATUS – PASSED
SENATE AND HOUSE TITLE: An act relating to
dropout prevention, intervention, and retrieval. SUMMARY: Directs OSPI to
manage a grant program, known as "Building Bridges Program" for
local partnerships of schools, families, and communities to address
dropout prevention, intervention and retrieval.
HOUSE BILL 1670 - CURRENT STATUS – PASSED
HOUSE AND SENATE TITLE: An act relating to
the role of school counselors in public schools. SUMMARY: Defines a school
counselor as a professional educator with state certification whose
purpose and role is to plan, organize, and deliver a comprehensive school
guidance and counseling program based on national counseling standards.
HOUSE BILL 1677 - CURRENT STATUS – PASSED
HOUSE AND SENATE TITLE: An act relating to
outdoor education and recreation. SUMMARY: Establishes the
Outdoor Education and recreation Grant Program under the authority of the
Washington State Parks and recreation Commission.
HB 1980 - CURRENT
STATUS – PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE TITLE:
An act relating to the financial literacy public-private partnership. SUMMARY:
Extends the financial literacy public-private partnership and adds
activities, including developing Essential Academic Learning Requirements
in personal finance. HB 2026 - CURRENT
STATUS – AWAITING ACTION IN SENATE TITLE:
An act relating to recruiters' access to high school students. SUMMARY:
Requires any school or school district that allows military recruiters to
have access to students or student records to allow the same access to
representatives of the Job Corps, Peace Corps, and AmeriCorps.
HB 2136 - CURRENT
STATUS – AWAITING ACTION IN SENATE TITLE:
An act relating to the improving core subject instruction for all students
pilot program. SUMMARY:
Reauthorizes and expands a special services pilot program, currently in
two school districts. Seven districts will be able to participate.
All districts will implement instructional interventions to assist
students struggling with reading, written language and mathematics.
SB 5269 - CURRENT STATUS – PASSED HOUSE
AND SENATE TITLE:
Establishing the First Peoples’ Language, Culture, and History
teacher certification program. SUMMARY:
The Washington State First Peoples’ Language/Culture pilot
program is expanded to include history and is established as a program in
statute. The Professional
Educator’s Standards Board will work with tribal governments to
implement the program. SB 5288 – CURRENT STATUS – PASSED HOUSE
AND SENATE TITLE: Requiring
cyber-bullying to be included in school district harassment prevention
policies. SUMMARY: Electronic acts
are added to the current definition of “harassment, intimidation, or
bullying.” Each school district must amend current policy by August 1,
2008 to include these acts conducted via electronic means by a student
while on school grounds during the school day. SB 5297 - CURRENT STATUS – PASSED HOUSE
AND SENATE TITLE: Regarding
provision of medically and scientifically accurate sexual health education
in schools. SUMMARY: By September 1,
2008 every school that offers sexual health education must assure that it
is medically and scientifically accurate. SB
5382 - CURRENT STATUS – PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE, AWAITING ACTION BY
GOVERNOR TITLE:
Authorizing record checks for employees and applicants for
employment at bureau of Indian affairs-funded schools. SUMMARY: SB
5775 – CURRENT STATUS – PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE, AWAITING ACTION BY
GOVERNOR TITLE: Changing special education
provisions. SUMMARY: Changes language
and terms in the State’s special education law to better align with the
federal IDEA. SB
5790 – CURRENT STATUS – PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE, SENATE REFUSED TO
CONCUR WITH HOUSE AMENDMENTS, AWAITING ACTION IN HOUSE TITLE:
Regarding skill centers SUMMARY: Implements
recommendations from the Workforce training and Education Coordinating
Board for skill centers. Creates
a new RCW chapter addressing skill centers.
SB 5828 – CURRENT STATUS – PASSED HOUSE
AND SENATE TITLE: Regarding early
childhood development and learning. SUMMARY: Establishes an
early learning advisory council to advise the Department of Early Learning
on early learning needs and to develop a statewide plan.
The Department is responsible for implementing a Five-Star
Voluntary Rating and Improvement System to improve the quality of early
learning, increase readiness for school, and close the disparity in access
to quality care. The
Department will report to the Legislature prior to implementation SB 5843 – CURRENT STATUS – PASSED HOUSE
AND SENATE TITLE: Regarding
educational data and data systems. SUMMARY: OSPI will
conduct a feasibility study on establishing a statewide longitudinal
student-teacher data system. The
study will look at costs associated with staffing and related impacts on
schools and districts from having to collect the data elements and
consideration of ways to reduce duplicate reporting of data.
Report due to the Legislature by November 1, 2008.
SB 6023 – CURRENT STATUS – PASSED HOUSE
AND SENATE TITLE:
Regarding alternative assessments SUMMARY: Creates an alternative assessment option to earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement, by allowing students who do not meet the state standard on the WASL in reading, writing, or mathematics to complete at least two additional semesters of coursework in the relevant content area and retaking the WASL once after the tenth grade. To check on the
status of any bills in the Legislature, go to www.leg.wa.gov
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