E2SSB 5330 -
By Committee on Education
NOT CONSIDERED
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 It is the intent of the legislature to
focus additional investments in K-12 education on educational support
services and programs that research demonstrates have a low risk of
failure, a good return on investment, and positive student outcomes.
Furthermore, the legislature intends to direct additional resources
toward students who need supplemental instruction and services in order
to provide them with the opportunity to learn and be successful;
support strategies to recruit, develop, mentor, and provide ongoing
support for excellent educators; and promote a system of policies and
services aimed to get students through high school and ready for career
and college.
Sec. 101 RCW 28A.150.260 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 27 s 2 are each
amended to read as follows:
The purpose of this section is to provide for the allocation of
state funding that the legislature deems necessary to support school
districts in offering the minimum instructional program of basic
education under RCW 28A.150.220. The allocation shall be determined as
follows:
(1) The governor shall and the superintendent of public instruction
may recommend to the legislature a formula for the distribution of a
basic education instructional allocation for each common school
district.
(2) The distribution formula under this section shall be for
allocation purposes only. Except as may be required under chapter
28A.155, 28A.165, 28A.180, or 28A.185 RCW, or federal laws and
regulations, nothing in this section requires school districts to use
basic education instructional funds to implement a particular
instructional approach or service. Nothing in this section requires
school districts to maintain a particular classroom teacher-to-student
ratio or other staff-to-student ratio or to use allocated funds to pay
for particular types or classifications of staff. Nothing in this
section entitles an individual teacher to a particular teacher planning
period.
(3)(a) To the extent the technical details of the formula have been
adopted by the legislature and except when specifically provided as a
school district allocation, the distribution formula for the basic
education instructional allocation shall be based on minimum staffing
and nonstaff costs the legislature deems necessary to support
instruction and operations in prototypical schools serving high,
middle, and elementary school students as provided in this section.
The use of prototypical schools for the distribution formula does not
constitute legislative intent that schools should be operated or
structured in a similar fashion as the prototypes. Prototypical
schools illustrate the level of resources needed to operate a school of
a particular size with particular types and grade levels of students
using commonly understood terms and inputs, such as class size, hours
of instruction, and various categories of school staff. It is the
intent that the funding allocations to school districts be adjusted
from the school prototypes based on the actual number of annual average
full-time equivalent students in each grade level at each school in the
district and not based on the grade-level configuration of the school
to the extent that data is available. The allocations shall be further
adjusted from the school prototypes with minimum allocations for small
schools and to reflect other factors identified in the omnibus
appropriations act.
(b) For the purposes of this section, prototypical schools are
defined as follows:
(i) A prototypical high school has six hundred average annual full-time equivalent students in grades nine through twelve;
(ii) A prototypical middle school has four hundred thirty-two
average annual full-time equivalent students in grades seven and eight;
and
(iii) A prototypical elementary school has four hundred average
annual full-time equivalent students in grades kindergarten through
six.
(4)(a) The minimum allocation for each level of prototypical school
shall be based on the number of full-time equivalent classroom teachers
needed to provide instruction over the minimum required annual
instructional hours under RCW 28A.150.220 and provide at least one
teacher planning period per school day, and based on the following
general education average class size of full-time equivalent students
per teacher:
General education
average
class size
Grades K-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.23
Grade 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.00
Grades 5-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.00
Grades 7-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . 28.53
Grades 9-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . 28.74
(b) During the 2011-2013 biennium and beginning with schools with
the highest percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price
meals in the prior school year, the general education average class
size for grades K-3 shall be reduced until the average class size
funded under this subsection (4) is no more than 17.0 full-time
equivalent students per teacher beginning in the 2017-18 school year.
(c) The minimum allocation for each prototypical middle and high
school shall also provide for full-time equivalent classroom teachers
based on the following number of full-time equivalent students per
teacher in career and technical education:
Career and technical
education average
class size
Approved career and technical education offered at
the middle school and high school level . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.57
Skill center programs meeting the standards established
by the office of the superintendent of public
instruction . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.76
(d) In addition, the omnibus appropriations act shall at a minimum
specify:
(i) A high-poverty average class size in schools where more than
fifty percent of the students are eligible for free and reduced-price
meals; and
(ii) A specialty average class size for laboratory science,
advanced placement, and international baccalaureate courses.
(5) The minimum allocation for each level of prototypical school
shall include allocations for the following types of staff in addition
to classroom teachers:
Elementary School | Middle School | High School | |
Principals, assistant principals, and other certificated building-level administrators . . . . . . . . . . . . | 1.253 | 1.353 | 1.880 |
Teacher librarians, a function that includes information literacy, technology, and media to support school library media programs . . . . . . . . . . . . | 0.663 | 0.519 | 0.523 |
Health and social services: | |||
School nurses . . . . . . . . . . . . | 0.076 | 0.060 | 0.096 |
Social workers . . . . . . . . . . . . | 0.042 | 0.006 | 0.015 |
Psychologists . . . . . . . . . . . . | 0.017 | 0.002 | 0.007 |
Guidance counselors, a function that includes parent outreach and graduation advising . . . . . . . . . . . . | 0.493 | (( | (( |
Teaching assistance, including any aspect of educational instructional services provided by classified employees . . . . . . . . . . . . | 0.936 | 0.700 | 0.652 |
Office support and other noninstructional aides . . . . . . . . . . . . | 2.012 | 2.325 | 3.269 |
Custodians . . . . . . . . . . . . | 1.657 | 1.942 | 2.965 |
Classified staff providing student and staff safety . . . . . . . . . . . . | 0.079 | 0.092 | 0.141 |
(( | (( | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Sec. 102 RCW 28A.165.015 and 2009 c 548 s 702 are each amended to
read as follows:
Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise the definitions in
this section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) (("Approved program" means a program submitted to and approved
by the office of the superintendent of public instruction and conducted
pursuant to the plan that addresses the required elements as provided
for in this chapter.)) "Basic skills areas" means reading, writing, ((
(2)and))
mathematics, and science as well as readiness associated with these
skills.
(((3))) (2) "Participating student" means a student in kindergarten
through grade twelve who scores below standard for his or her grade
level on the statewide student assessments or other assessments
administered by the school or district and who is identified ((in)) by
the ((approved plan)) district to receive services.
(((4))) (3) "Statewide student assessments" means one or more of
the ((several basic skills assessments administered as part of the
state's student assessment system, and assessments in the basic skills
areas administered by local school districts)) assessments administered
by school districts as required under RCW 28A.655.070.
(((5))) (4) "Underachieving students" means students with the
greatest academic deficits in basic skills as identified by the
statewide, school, or district assessments.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 103 A new section is added to chapter 28A.165
RCW to read as follows:
(1) Each school district receiving learning assistance program
funds must:
(a) Use one or more of the curricula or instructional programs
recommended by the office of the superintendent of public instruction
under subsection (3) of this section or an alternative program as
permitted under subsection (4) of this section to provide supplemental
instruction to participating students;
(b) Record each participating student in the statewide individual
student data system;
(c) Monitor and document the performance and progress of
participating students, using multiple sources of performance data.
When the office of the superintendent of public instruction has the
capacity to provide data on individual student growth or student growth
percentiles using the statewide student assessment, the school district
must include this data in its monitoring of the performance of
participating students;
(d) Conduct an annual evaluation of the program by analyzing the
performance data for participating students compared to the chosen
instructional strategies and curriculum, qualifications and training of
staff, and other relevant factors; and
(e) Prepare and submit to the office of the superintendent of
public instruction a year-end report on the learning assistance
program, using a common format prepared by the office. The office must
design the report so that information required in the report is not
already collected by the state through another source.
(2) The year-end report submitted by each district receiving
learning assistance program funds must include:
(a) The processes, assessments, and criteria used to identify the
underachieving students served by the program;
(b) The schools or sites that provided program services during the
year;
(c) Which curricula or instructional programs were used during the
year and at which school or site;
(d) Summary data on total expenditures and average expenditures per
participating student attributable to learning assistance program
funds, by school or program site and at the district level;
(e) A summary of the annual evaluation for the program, including
a summary of the results of the district's analysis of performance data
for participating students; and
(f) The program changes the school district intends to make for the
ensuing year based on the evaluation results, and the outcomes expected
from those changes.
(3) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall
publish a list of recommended supplemental curricula or instructional
programs for use in the learning assistance program. The office shall
compile the list in consultation with the Washington state institute
for public policy and other national or regional research organizations
based on research evidence indicating the curricula or instructional
programs are associated with increased student achievement. The office
must update the list periodically.
(4) School districts may use a curriculum or instructional program
that is not on the list developed under subsection (3) of this section
for one school year. If the district is able to demonstrate increased
achievement for participating students, the office of the
superintendent of public instruction shall approve use of the program
by the district for one additional school year. Subsequent annual
approval to use the alternative curriculum or program by the office is
dependent on the district continuing to demonstrate increased
achievement for participating students.
Sec. 104 RCW 28A.165.055 and 2009 c 548 s 703 are each amended to
read as follows:
((Each school district with an approved program is eligible for
state funds provided for the learning assistance program.)) The funds
for the learning assistance program shall be appropriated for the
learning assistance program and distributed to school districts in
accordance with RCW 28A.150.260 and the omnibus appropriations act.
The distribution formula is for school district allocation purposes
only, but funds appropriated for the learning assistance program must
be expended for the purposes of RCW 28A.165.005 through 28A.165.065 and
section 103 of this act.
Sec. 105 RCW 28A.165.065 and 2004 c 20 s 7 are each amended to
read as follows:
To ensure that school districts are meeting the requirements of
((an approved program)) this chapter, the superintendent of public
instruction shall monitor ((such)) learning assistance programs no less
than once every four years. ((Individual student records shall be
maintained at the school district.)) The primary purpose of program
monitoring is to evaluate the effectiveness of a district's allocation
and expenditure of resources, choice of curricula and instructional
programs, and other program components on improving student
achievement. The office of the superintendent of public instruction
may provide technical assistance to school districts to improve the
effectiveness of a learning assistance program.
Sec. 106 RCW 28A.320.190 and 2009 c 578 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The extended learning opportunities program is created for
eligible ((eleventh and)) ninth through twelfth grade students who are
not on track to meet local or state graduation requirements as well as
eighth grade students who need additional assistance in order to have
the opportunity for a successful entry into high school. The program
shall provide early notification of graduation status and information
on education opportunities including preapprenticeship programs that
are available.
(2) Under the extended learning opportunities program and to the
extent funds are available for that purpose, districts shall make
available to students in grade twelve who have failed to meet one or
more local or state graduation requirements the option of continuing
enrollment in the school district in accordance with RCW 28A.225.160.
Districts are authorized to use basic education program funding to
provide instruction to eligible students under RCW 28A.150.220(((3)))
(5).
(3) Under the extended learning opportunities program,
instructional services for eligible students can occur during the
regular school day, evenings, on weekends, or at a time and location
deemed appropriate by the school district, including the educational
service district, in order to meet the needs of these students.
Instructional services provided under this section do not include
services offered at private schools. Instructional services can
include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) Individual or small group instruction;
(b) Instruction in English language arts and/or mathematics that
eligible students need to pass all or part of the ((Washington)) state
high school assessment ((of student learning));
(c) Attendance in a public high school or public alternative school
classes or at a skill center;
(d) Inclusion in remediation programs, including summer school;
(e) Language development instruction for English language learners;
(f) Online curriculum and instructional support, including programs
for credit retrieval and ((Washington)) state assessment ((of student
learning)) preparatory classes; and
(g) Reading improvement specialists available at the educational
service districts to serve eighth((, eleventh, and)) through twelfth
grade educators through professional development in accordance with RCW
28A.415.350. The reading improvement specialist may also provide
direct services to eligible students and those students electing to
continue a fifth year in a high school program who are still struggling
with basic reading skills.
Sec. 107 RCW 28A.180.030 and 2001 1st sp.s. c 6 s 3 are each
amended to read as follows:
As used throughout this chapter, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise:
(1) "Transitional bilingual instruction" means:
(a) A system of instruction which uses two languages, one of which
is English, as a means of instruction to build upon and expand language
skills to enable the pupil to achieve competency in English. Concepts
and information are introduced in the primary language and reinforced
in the second language: PROVIDED, That the program shall include
testing in the subject matter in English; or
(b) In those cases in which the use of two languages is not
practicable as established by the superintendent of public instruction
and unless otherwise prohibited by law, an alternative system of
instruction which may include English as a second language and is
designed to enable the pupil to achieve competency in English.
(2) "Primary language" means the language most often used by the
student for communication in his/her home.
(3) "Eligible pupil" means any enrollee of the school district
whose primary language is other than English and whose English language
skills are sufficiently deficient or absent to impair learning.
(4) "Exited pupil" means a student previously enrolled in the
transitional bilingual instruction program who is no longer eligible
for the program based on his or her performance on an English
proficiency assessment approved by the superintendent of public
instruction.
Sec. 108 RCW 28A.180.040 and 2009 c 380 s 5 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) Every school district board of directors shall:
(a) Make available to each eligible pupil transitional bilingual
instruction to achieve competency in English, in accord with rules of
the superintendent of public instruction;
(b) Wherever feasible, ensure that communications to parents
emanating from the schools shall be appropriately bilingual for those
parents of pupils in the bilingual instruction program;
(c) Determine, by administration of an English test approved by the
superintendent of public instruction the number of eligible pupils
enrolled in the school district at the beginning of a school year and
thereafter during the year as necessary in individual cases;
(d) Ensure that a student who is a child of a military family in
transition and who has been assessed as in need of, or enrolled in, a
bilingual instruction program, the receiving school shall initially
honor placement of the student into a like program.
(i) The receiving school shall determine whether the district's
program is a like program when compared to the sending school's
program; and
(ii) The receiving school may conduct subsequent assessments
pursuant to RCW 28A.180.090 to determine appropriate placement and
continued enrollment in the program;
(e) Before the conclusion of each school year, measure each
eligible pupil's improvement in learning the English language by means
of a test approved by the superintendent of public instruction; ((and))
(f) Provide in-service training for teachers, counselors, and other
staff, who are involved in the district's transitional bilingual
program. Such training shall include appropriate instructional
strategies for children of culturally different backgrounds, use of
curriculum materials, and program models; and
(g) Make available a program of instructional support for up to two
years immediately after pupils exit from the program, for exited pupils
who need assistance in reaching grade-level performance in academic
subjects even though they have achieved English proficiency for
purposes of the transitional bilingual instructional program.
(2) Beginning in the 2017-18 school year, all classroom teachers
assigned using funds for the transitional bilingual instructional
program to provide supplemental instruction for eligible pupils must
hold an endorsement in bilingual education or English language learner,
or both.
(3) The definitions in Article II of RCW 28A.705.010 apply to
subsection (1)(d) of this section.
Sec. 109 RCW 28A.180.090 and 2001 1st sp.s. c 6 s 2 are each
amended to read as follows:
The superintendent of public instruction shall develop an
evaluation system designed to measure increases in the English and
academic proficiency of eligible pupils. When developing the system,
the superintendent shall:
(1) Require school districts to assess potentially eligible pupils
within ten days of registration using an English proficiency assessment
or assessments as specified by the superintendent of public
instruction. Results of these assessments shall be made available to
both the superintendent of public instruction and the school district;
(2) Require school districts to annually assess all eligible pupils
at the end of the school year using an English proficiency assessment
or assessments as specified by the superintendent of public
instruction. Results of these assessments shall be made available to
both the superintendent of public instruction and the school district.
Aggregated results must be posted on the web site of the office of the
superintendent of public instruction for each school and school
district, using the Washington state report card. The report card must
include the average length of time students in each school and district
are enrolled in the transitional bilingual instructional program,
annual change in the number and percentage of students making progress
in learning English, annual change in the number and percentage of
students attaining English proficiency, and the number and percentage
of students meeting annual targets in reading and mathematics for state
and federal accountability;
(3) Develop a system to evaluate increases in the English and
academic proficiency of students who are, or were, eligible pupils.
This evaluation shall include students when they are in the program and
after they exit the program until they finish their K-12 career or
transfer from the school district. Aggregated results from the
academic assessment of students who were formerly eligible pupils under
the program must be reported by school and school district using the
Washington state report card. The purpose of the evaluation system is
to inform schools, school districts, parents, and the state of the
effectiveness of the transitional bilingual programs in school and
school districts in teaching these students English and other content
areas, such as mathematics and writing; and
(4) ((Report to the education and fiscal committees of the
legislature by November 1, 2002, regarding the development of the
systems described in this section and a timeline for the full
implementation of those systems. The legislature shall approve and
provide funding for the evaluation system in subsection (3) of this
section before any implementation of the system developed under
subsection (3) of this section may occur)) Provide school districts
with technical assistance and support in selecting research-based
program models, instructional materials, and professional development
for program staff, including disseminating information about best
practices and innovative programs. The information must include
research about the differences between conversational language
proficiency, academic language proficiency, and subject-specific
language proficiency and the implications this research has on
instructional practices and evaluation of program effectiveness.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 110 (1) The office of the superintendent of
public instruction shall convene an English language learner
accountability task force to design a performance-based accountability
system for the transitional bilingual instructional program. The task
force must include representatives from the educational opportunity gap
oversight and accountability committee, the state ethnic commissions,
the governor's office of tribal affairs, the office of the education
ombudsman, the civil rights office within the office of the
superintendent of public instruction, parents, community
representatives, and program directors and teachers from school
districts of different sizes and with different English language
learner student populations.
(2) The task force must review the research literature to identify
evidence-based program designs and instructional strategies for English
language learners to achieve English proficiency.
(3) The task force must identify performance benchmarks for
transitional bilingual instructional programs, including:
(a) Benchmarks based on performance of eligible and exited
students, including performance in English language and performance in
other academic areas, based on state learning standards; and
(b) Benchmarks based on program characteristics that research
suggests are associated with students achieving English proficiency,
such as staff qualifications and training and the level of supplemental
instruction for students.
(4) The task force must design an accountability system for the
program that includes reporting and monitoring of benchmark performance
and tiered levels of support and technical assistance for schools and
districts based on benchmark performance. The design of the system
must also include a reduction in requirements for schools and districts
to submit program applications and program plans for state approval, to
be replaced with a focus on program outcomes.
(5) The task force must submit a report first to the educational
opportunity gap oversight and accountability committee and the quality
education council, and then to the education committees of the
legislature, with recommendations for the design of the accountability
system and any policy changes, statutory changes, or resources
necessary for its implementation. An interim report is due to the
legislative education committees by January 15, 2014, and a final
report is due by September 30, 2014.
(6) This section expires July 1, 2015.
Sec. 111 RCW 28A.150.220 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 27 s 1 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) In order for students to have the opportunity to develop the
basic education knowledge and skills under RCW 28A.150.210, school
districts must provide instruction of sufficient quantity and quality
and give students the opportunity to complete graduation requirements
that are intended to prepare them for postsecondary education, gainful
employment, and citizenship. The program established under this
section shall be the minimum instructional program of basic education
offered by school districts.
(2) Each school district shall make available to students the
following minimum instructional offering each school year:
(a) For students enrolled in grades one through twelve, at least a
district-wide annual average of one thousand hours, which shall be
increased to at least one thousand eighty instructional hours for
students enrolled in each of grades seven through twelve and at least
one thousand instructional hours for students in each of grades one
through six according to an implementation schedule adopted by the
legislature, but not before the 2014-15 school year; and
(b) For students enrolled in kindergarten, at least four hundred
fifty instructional hours, which shall be increased to at least one
thousand instructional hours according to the implementation schedule
under RCW 28A.150.315.
(3) The instructional program of basic education provided by each
school district shall include:
(a) Instruction in the essential academic learning requirements
under RCW 28A.655.070;
(b) Instruction that provides students the opportunity to complete
twenty-four credits for high school graduation, subject to a phased-in
implementation of the twenty-four credits as established by the
legislature. Course distribution requirements may be established by
the state board of education under RCW 28A.230.090;
(c) If the essential academic learning requirements include a
requirement of languages other than English, the requirement may be met
by students receiving instruction in one or more American Indian
languages;
(d) Supplemental instruction and services for underachieving
students through the learning assistance program under RCW 28A.165.005
through 28A.165.065;
(e) Supplemental instruction and services for eligible and enrolled
students whose primary language is other than English through the
transitional bilingual instruction program under RCW 28A.180.010
through 28A.180.080;
(f) The opportunity for an appropriate education at public expense
as defined by RCW 28A.155.020 for all eligible students with
disabilities as defined in RCW 28A.155.020; and
(g) Programs for highly capable students under RCW 28A.185.010
through 28A.185.030.
(4) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to require
individual students to attend school for any particular number of hours
per day or to take any particular courses.
(5) Each school district's kindergarten through twelfth grade basic
educational program shall be accessible to all students who are five
years of age, as provided by RCW 28A.225.160, and less than twenty-one
years of age and shall consist of a minimum of one hundred eighty
school days per school year in such grades as are conducted by a school
district, and one hundred eighty half-days of instruction, or
equivalent, in kindergarten, to be increased to a minimum of one
hundred eighty school days per school year according to the
implementation schedule under RCW 28A.150.315. However, schools
administering the Washington kindergarten inventory of developing
skills may use up to five school days at the beginning of the school
year to meet with parents and families as required in the parent
involvement component of the inventory. In addition, effective May 1,
1979, a school district may schedule the last five school days of the
one hundred and eighty day school year for noninstructional purposes in
the case of students who are graduating from high school, including,
but not limited to, the observance of graduation and early release from
school upon the request of a student, and all such students may be
claimed as a full-time equivalent student to the extent they could
otherwise have been so claimed for the purposes of RCW 28A.150.250 and
28A.150.260.
(6) Nothing in this section precludes a school district from
enriching the instructional program of basic education, such as
offering additional instruction or providing additional services,
programs, or activities that the school district determines to be
appropriate for the education of the school district's students.
(7) The state board of education shall adopt rules to implement and
ensure compliance with the program requirements imposed by this
section, RCW 28A.150.250 and 28A.150.260, and such related supplemental
program approval requirements as the state board may establish.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 112 A new section is added to chapter 28A.155
RCW to read as follows:
(1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction must
establish interagency agreements with the department of social and
health services, the department of services for the blind, and any
other state agency that provides high school transition services for
students with disabilities. The purpose of the interagency agreements
is to foster effective multiagency collaboration to enhance the
provision of transition services for students with disabilities age
sixteen through twenty-one, or through high school graduation,
whichever occurs first. Interagency agreements are also intended to
streamline services and programs, promote efficiencies, and establish
a consistent focus on improved posthigh school outcomes related to
self-sufficiency. This subsection does not require the provision of
any additional transition services not otherwise required by state or
federal law.
(2) The professional educator standards board must examine educator
certification requirements to assure that special education teachers,
school counselors, and school psychologists receive training and
information regarding the transition needs of students with
disabilities. The office of the superintendent of public instruction
shall post resources on its web site to assist teachers, counselors,
and psychologists in providing transition services.
(3) To the extent that data is available through data-sharing
agreements established by the education data center under RCW
43.41.400, the education data center must monitor the following
outcomes for students with disabilities after high school graduation:
(a) The number of students who, within one year of high school
graduation:
(i) Enter integrated employment paid at the greater of minimum wage
or competitive wage for the type of employment, with access to related
employment and health benefits; or
(ii) Enter a postsecondary education or training program focused on
leading to integrated employment;
(b) The wages and number of hours worked per pay period;
(c) The impact of employment on any state and federal benefits for
individuals with disabilities;
(d) Indicators of the types of settings in which students who
previously received transition services primarily reside;
(e) Indicators of improved economic status and self-sufficiency;
(f) Data on those students for whom a postsecondary or integrated
employment outcome does not occur within one year of high school
graduation, including:
(i) Information on the reasons that the desired outcome has not
occurred;
(ii) The number of months the student has not achieved the desired
outcome; and
(iii) The efforts made to ensure the student achieves the desired
outcome.
(4) To the extent that the data elements in subsection (3) of this
section are not available to the education data center through data-sharing agreements, the office of the superintendent of public
instruction must attempt to collect the data through a single
communication with the student based on the student's last known
address within one year after the student's graduation or within one
year after turning age twenty-one, whichever occurs first.
(5) The office of the superintendent of public instruction must
aggregate the data collected in subsections (3) and (4) of this section
into an annual report and post the report on its web site.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 113 A new section is added to chapter 28A.600
RCW to read as follows:
(1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this
section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(a) "Isolation" means excluding a student from his or her regular
instructional area and restricting the student alone within a room or
any other form of enclosure, from which the student may not leave.
(b) "Restraint" means physical intervention or force used to
control a student, including the use of a restraint device.
(c) "Restraint device" means a device used to assist in controlling
a student, including but not limited to metal handcuffs, plastic ties,
ankle restraints, leather cuffs, other hospital-type restraints, pepper
spray, tasers, or batons.
(2) The provisions of this section apply only to any restraint of
a student who has an individualized education program or plan developed
under section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 that results in a
physical injury to a student or a staff member, any restraint of a
student who has an individualized education program or plan developed
under section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 lasting longer than
two minutes, and any isolation of a student who has an individualized
education program or plan developed under section 504 of the
rehabilitation act of 1973. The provisions of this section apply only
to incidents of restraint or isolation that occur while a student who
has an individualized education program or plan developed under section
504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 is participating in school-sponsored instruction or activities.
(3) Following the release of a student from the use of restraint or
isolation, the school must implement follow-up procedures. These
procedures must include reviewing the incident with the student and the
parent or guardian to address the behavior that precipitated the
restraint or isolation and reviewing the incident with the staff member
who administered the restraint or isolation to discuss whether proper
procedures were followed.
(4) Any school employee, resource officer, or school security
officer who uses any chemical spray, mechanical restraint, or physical
force on a student during school-sponsored instruction or activities
must inform the building administrator or building administrator's
designee as soon as possible, and within two business days submit a
written report of the incident to the district office. The written
report should include, at a minimum, the following information:
(a) The date and time of the incident;
(b) The name and job title of the individual who administered the
restraint or isolation;
(c) A description of the activity that led to the restraint or
isolation;
(d) The type of restraint or isolation used on the student,
including the duration; and
(e) Whether the student or staff was physically injured during the
restraint or isolation and any medical care provided.
(5) The principal or principal's designee must make a reasonable
effort to verbally inform the student's parent or guardian within
twenty-four hours of the incident, and must send written notification
as soon as practical but postmarked no later than five business days
after the restraint or isolation occurred. If the school or school
district customarily provides the parent or guardian with school-related information in a language other than English, the written
report under this section must be provided to the parent or guardian in
that language.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 114 A new section is added to chapter 28A.155
RCW to read as follows:
A school that is required to develop an individualized education
program as required by federal law must include within the plan
procedures for notification of a parent or guardian regarding the use
of restraint or isolation. Parents and guardians of children who have
individualized education programs must be provided a copy of the
district policy on the use of isolation and restraint at the time that
the program is created.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 115 A new section is added to chapter 28A.600
RCW to read as follows:
Parents and guardians of children who have plans developed under
section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 must be provided a copy
of the district policy on the use of isolation and restraint at the
time that the plan is created.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 116 A new section is added to chapter 28A.600
RCW to read as follows:
(1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall
convene a discipline task force to develop standard definitions for
causes of student disciplinary actions taken at the discretion of the
school district. The task force must also develop data collection
standards for disciplinary actions that are discretionary and for
disciplinary actions that result in the exclusion of a student from
school. The data collection standards must include data about
education services provided while a student is subject to a
disciplinary action, the status of petitions for readmission to the
school district when a student has been excluded from school, credit
retrieval during a period of exclusion, and school dropout as a result
of disciplinary action.
(2) The discipline task force shall include representatives from
the K-12 data governance group, the educational opportunity gap
oversight and accountability committee, the state ethnic commissions,
the governor's office of Indian affairs, the office of the education
ombudsman, school districts, and other education and advocacy
organizations.
(3) The office of the superintendent of public instruction and the
K-12 data governance group shall revise the statewide student data
system to incorporate the student discipline data collection standards
recommended by the discipline task force, and begin collecting data
based on the revised standards in the 2015-16 school year.
Sec. 117 RCW 28A.600.015 and 2006 c 263 s 701 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt and
distribute to all school districts lawful and reasonable rules
prescribing the substantive and procedural due process guarantees of
pupils in the common schools. Such rules shall authorize a school
district to use informal due process procedures in connection with the
short-term suspension of students to the extent constitutionally
permissible: PROVIDED, That the superintendent of public instruction
deems the interest of students to be adequately protected. When a
student suspension or expulsion is appealed, the rules shall authorize
a school district to impose the suspension or expulsion temporarily
after an initial hearing for no more than ten consecutive school days
or until the appeal is decided, whichever is earlier. Any days that
the student is temporarily suspended or expelled before the appeal is
decided shall be applied to the term of the student suspension or
expulsion and shall not limit or extend the term of the student
suspension or expulsion. A suspension or expulsion of a student may
not be for an indefinite period of time, and a school district may not
suspend the provision of educational services to a student as a
disciplinary measure.
(2) Short-term suspension procedures may be used for suspensions of
students up to and including, ten consecutive school days.
(3) Emergency expulsions must end or be converted to another form
of corrective action within ten school days from the date of the
emergency removal from school. Notice and due process rights must be
provided to students when an emergency expulsion is converted to
another form of corrective action.
(4) A school district may not impose a disciplinary action that
results in the suspension of educational services to a student. A
student may be excluded from a particular classroom or instructional or
activity area for the period of suspension, but the school district
must provide an opportunity for the student to receive educational
services in an alternative manner, which may include services provided
through an alternative program, at an alternative school, or at an
alternative location within the student's regular school.
Sec. 118 RCW 28A.600.020 and 2006 c 263 s 706 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The rules adopted pursuant to RCW 28A.600.010 shall be
interpreted to ensure that the optimum learning atmosphere of the
classroom is maintained, and that the highest consideration is given to
the judgment of qualified certificated educators regarding conditions
necessary to maintain the optimum learning atmosphere.
(2) Any student who creates a disruption of the educational process
in violation of the building disciplinary standards while under a
teacher's immediate supervision may be excluded by the teacher from his
or her individual classroom and instructional or activity area for all
or any portion of the balance of the school day, or up to the following
two days, or until the principal or designee and teacher have
conferred, whichever occurs first. Except in emergency circumstances,
the teacher first must attempt one or more alternative forms of
corrective action. In no event without the consent of the teacher may
an excluded student return to the class during the balance of that
class or activity period or up to the following two days, or until the
principal or his or her designee and the teacher have conferred.
(3) In order to preserve a beneficial learning environment for all
students and to maintain good order and discipline in each classroom,
every school district board of directors shall provide that written
procedures are developed for administering discipline at each school
within the district. Such procedures shall be developed with the
participation of ((parents)) families and the community, and shall
provide that the teacher, principal or designee, and other authorities
designated by the board of directors, make every reasonable attempt to
involve the ((parent)) family or guardian and the student in the
resolution of student discipline problems. Such procedures shall
provide that students may be excluded from their individual classes or
activities for periods of time in excess of that provided in subsection
(2) of this section if such students have repeatedly disrupted the
learning of other students. The procedures must be consistent with the
rules of the superintendent of public instruction and must provide for
early involvement of ((parents)) families in attempts to improve the
student's behavior.
(4) The procedures shall assure, pursuant to RCW 28A.400.110, that
all staff work cooperatively toward consistent enforcement of proper
student behavior throughout each school as well as within each
classroom.
(5)(a) A principal ((shall)) may consider imposing long-term
suspension or expulsion as a sanction when deciding the appropriate
disciplinary action for a student who, after July 27, 1997:
(((a))) (i) Engages in two or more violations within a three-year
period of RCW 9A.46.120, 28A.320.135, 28A.600.455, 28A.600.460,
28A.635.020, 28A.600.020, 28A.635.060, or 9.41.280((, or 28A.320.140));
or
(((b))) (ii) Engages in one or more of the offenses listed in RCW
13.04.155.
(b) The principal shall communicate the disciplinary action taken
by the principal to the school personnel who referred the student to
the principal for disciplinary action.
(6) Any corrective action involving a suspension or expulsion from
school for more than ten days must have an end date no later than the
end of the academic term in which the student exhibited behavior
leading to a corrective action. In consultation with families and
guardians of students subject to corrective action, school districts
shall make reasonable efforts to assist students in returning to an
educational setting prior to and no later than the end date of the
corrective action. Where warranted based on public health or safety,
a school district may petition the superintendent of public
instruction, pursuant to policies and procedures adopted by the
superintendent of public instruction, for authorization to exceed the
academic term limitation provided in this subsection. The
superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules outlining the
limited circumstances in which a school district may petition the
superintendent of public instruction to exceed the academic term
limitation, including safeguards to ensure that the district has made
every effort to plan for the student's return to school and that the
student's extended expulsion from the district does not impair the
student's constitutional right to education. In adopting rules and
reviewing petitions to exceed the academic term limitation, the
superintendent of public instruction must assure that students receive
educational services while serving a suspension or expulsion. A
petition to exceed the academic term limitation shall not be granted by
the superintendent of public instruction if a school district does not
provide educational services to a student serving a suspension or
expulsion.
(7) As provided in RCW 28A.600.015, a school district may not
impose disciplinary action that results in the suspension of
educational services to a student.
Sec. 119 RCW 28A.600.410 and 1992 c 155 s 1 are each amended to
read as follows:
It is the intent of the legislature to minimize the use of out-of-school suspension and expulsion and its impact on student achievement
by reducing the number of days that students are excluded from school
due to disciplinary action. Student discipline should not impair a
student's constitutional right to education.
School districts are encouraged to find alternatives to suspension
including reducing the length of a student's suspension conditioned by
the commencement of counseling or other treatment services. Consistent
with current law, the conditioning of a student's suspension does not
obligate the school district to pay for the counseling or other
treatment services except for those stipulated and agreed to by the
district at the inception of the suspension.
Sec. 120 RCW 28A.600.460 and 1997 c 266 s 9 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) School district boards of directors shall adopt policies that
restore discipline to the classroom. Such policies must provide for at
least the following: Allowing each teacher to take disciplinary action
to correct a student who disrupts normal classroom activities, abuses
or insults a teacher as prohibited by RCW 28A.635.010, willfully
disobeys a teacher, uses abusive or foul language directed at a school
district employee, school volunteer, or another student, violates
school rules, or who interferes with an orderly education process.
Disciplinary action may include but is not limited to: Oral or written
reprimands; written notification to parents of disruptive behavior, a
copy of which must be provided to the principal.
(2) A student committing an offense under chapter 9A.36, 9A.40,
9A.46, or 9A.48 RCW when the activity is directed toward the teacher,
shall not be assigned to that teacher's classroom for the duration of
the student's attendance at that school or any other school where the
teacher is assigned.
(3) A student who commits an offense under chapter 9A.36, 9A.40,
9A.46, or 9A.48 RCW, when directed toward another student, may be
removed from the classroom of the victim for the duration of the
student's attendance at that school or any other school where the
victim is enrolled. A student who commits an offense under one of the
chapters enumerated in this section against a student or another school
employee, may be expelled or suspended.
(4) Nothing in this section is intended to limit the authority of
a school under existing law and rules to expel or suspend a student for
misconduct or criminal behavior. However, as provided in RCW
28A.600.015, a school district may not impose disciplinary action that
results in the suspension of educational services to a student.
(5) All school districts must collect data on disciplinary actions
taken in each school and must record such actions using the statewide
student data system, based on the data collection standards established
by the office of the superintendent of public instruction and the K-12
data governance group. The information shall be made available to the
public upon request((. This collection of)), but any public release of
such data shall not include personally identifiable information
including, but not limited to, a student's social security number,
name, or address.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 121 A new section is added to chapter 28A.600
RCW to read as follows:
(1) School districts should make efforts to have suspended or
expelled students return to the educational setting they were suspended
or expelled from as soon as possible. School districts should convene
a school reenrollment meeting with the student and the student's family
or guardians within twenty days of the student's long-term suspension
or expulsion, but no later than five days before the student's
enrollment, to discuss a plan to reenroll and reengage the student in
a school program.
(2) In developing a reenrollment and reengagement plan, school
districts should consider shortening the length of time that the
student is suspended or expelled, other forms of corrective action, and
supportive interventions that aid in the student's academic success and
keep the student engaged and on track to graduate. School districts
must create a reenrollment and reengagement plan tailored to the
student's individual circumstances, including consideration of the
incident that led to the student's long-term suspension or expulsion.
The plan should aid the student in taking the necessary steps to remedy
the situation that led to the student's suspension or expulsion.
(3) Any reenrollment meetings conducted by the school district
involving the suspended or expelled student and his or her family or
guardians are not intended to replace a petition for readmission.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 122 Nothing in sections 117 through 121 of
this act prevents a public school district, law enforcement agencies,
or law enforcement personnel from enforcing laws protecting health and
human safety.
Sec. 123 RCW 43.41.400 and 2012 c 229 s 585 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) An education data center shall be established in the office of
financial management. The education data center shall jointly, with
the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee,
conduct collaborative analyses of early learning, K-12, and higher
education programs and education issues across the P-20 system, which
includes the department of early learning, the superintendent of public
instruction, the professional educator standards board, the state board
of education, the state board for community and technical colleges, the
workforce training and education coordinating board, the student
achievement council, public and private nonprofit four-year
institutions of higher education, and the employment security
department. The education data center shall conduct collaborative
analyses under this section with the legislative evaluation and
accountability program committee and provide data electronically to the
legislative evaluation and accountability program committee, to the
extent permitted by state and federal confidentiality requirements.
The education data center shall be considered an authorized
representative of the state educational agencies in this section under
applicable federal and state statutes for purposes of accessing and
compiling student record data for research purposes.
(2) The education data center shall:
(a) In consultation with the legislative evaluation and
accountability program committee and the agencies and organizations
participating in the education data center, identify the critical
research and policy questions that are intended to be addressed by the
education data center and the data needed to address the questions;
(b) Coordinate with other state education agencies to compile and
analyze education data, including data on student demographics that is
disaggregated by distinct ethnic categories within racial subgroups,
and complete P-20 research projects;
(c) Collaborate with the legislative evaluation and accountability
program committee and the education and fiscal committees of the
legislature in identifying the data to be compiled and analyzed to
ensure that legislative interests are served;
(d) Annually provide to the K-12 data governance group a list of
data elements and data quality improvements that are necessary to
answer the research and policy questions identified by the education
data center and have been identified by the legislative committees in
(c) of this subsection. Within three months of receiving the list, the
K-12 data governance group shall develop and transmit to the education
data center a feasibility analysis of obtaining or improving the data,
including the steps required, estimated time frame, and the financial
and other resources that would be required. Based on the analysis, the
education data center shall submit, if necessary, a recommendation to
the legislature regarding any statutory changes or resources that would
be needed to collect or improve the data;
(e) Monitor and evaluate the education data collection systems of
the organizations and agencies represented in the education data center
ensuring that data systems are flexible, able to adapt to evolving
needs for information, and to the extent feasible and necessary,
include data that are needed to conduct the analyses and provide
answers to the research and policy questions identified in (a) of this
subsection;
(f) Track enrollment and outcomes through the public centralized
higher education enrollment system;
(g) Assist other state educational agencies' collaborative efforts
to develop a long-range enrollment plan for higher education including
estimates to meet demographic and workforce needs;
(h) Provide research that focuses on student transitions within and
among the early learning, K-12, and higher education sectors in the P-20 system; ((and))
(i) Prepare a regular report on the educational and workforce
outcomes of youth in the juvenile justice system, using data
disaggregated according to RCW 28A.300.042, and by age; and
(j) Make recommendations to the legislature as necessary to help
ensure the goals and objectives of this section and RCW 28A.655.210 and
28A.300.507 are met.
(3) The department of early learning, superintendent of public
instruction, professional educator standards board, state board of
education, state board for community and technical colleges, workforce
training and education coordinating board, student achievement council,
public four-year institutions of higher education, department of social
and health services, and employment security department shall work with
the education data center to develop data-sharing and research
agreements, consistent with applicable security and confidentiality
requirements, to facilitate the work of the center. The education data
center shall also develop data-sharing and research agreements with the
administrative office of the courts to conduct research on educational
and workforce outcomes using data maintained under RCW 13.50.010(11)
related to juveniles. Private, nonprofit institutions of higher
education that provide programs of education beyond the high school
level leading at least to the baccalaureate degree and are accredited
by the Northwest association of schools and colleges or their peer
accreditation bodies may also develop data-sharing and research
agreements with the education data center, consistent with applicable
security and confidentiality requirements. The education data center
shall make data from collaborative analyses available to the education
agencies and institutions that contribute data to the education data
center to the extent allowed by federal and state security and
confidentiality requirements applicable to the data of each
contributing agency or institution.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 124 A new section is added to chapter 28A.655
RCW to read as follows:
Before implementing revisions to the state essential academic
learning requirements as authorized under RCW 28A.655.070, the
superintendent of public instruction must ensure that a fairness and
bias review of the revisions has been conducted, including providing an
opportunity for input from the educational opportunity gap oversight
and accountability committee under RCW 28A.300.136 and from an
additional diverse group of community representatives, parents, and
educators to be convened by the superintendent.
Sec. 125 RCW 28A.300.042 and 2009 c 468 s 4 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) Beginning with the 2014-15 school year and using the phase-in
provided in subsection (2) of this section, the superintendent of
public instruction must collect and school districts must submit all
student-level data using the United States office of management and
budget 1997 race and ethnicity reporting guidelines, including the
subracial and subethnic categories within those guidelines, with the
following modifications to the subracial and subethnic categories:
(a) Further disaggregation of the Black category to differentiate
students of African origin and students native to the United States
with African ancestors;
(b) Further disaggregation of countries of origin for Asian
students;
(c) Further disaggregation of the White category to include
subethnic categories for Eastern European nationalities that have
significant populations in Washington; and
(d) For students who report as multiracial, collection of their
racial and ethnic combination of categories.
(2) Beginning with the 2014-15 school year, school districts must
collect student-level data as provided in subsection (1) of this
section for all newly enrolled students, including transfer students.
School districts must resurvey students for whom subracial and
subethnic categories are not reported when the students enter middle
school or junior high school. School districts may resurvey other
students.
(3) All student data-related reports ((required of)) prepared by
the superintendent of public instruction ((in)) under this title must
be disaggregated by at least the following subgroups of students:
White, Black, Hispanic, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian, Pacific
Islander/Hawaiian Native, low income, transitional bilingual, migrant,
special education, and students covered by section 504 of the federal
rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. Sec. 794). Beginning
with the 2014-15 school year, student data-related reports must also be
prepared displaying additional disaggregation of data if analysis of
the data indicates significant differences among categories of students
as it pertains to the subject of the report. The superintendent of
public instruction may use other data for analysis if disaggregated
data for subracial and subethnic categories of students do not exist,
including but not limited to whether the student is an immigrant;
country of birth; or language spoken at home.
(4) The K-12 data governance group shall develop the data protocols
and guidance for school districts in the collection of data as required
under this section, and the office of the superintendent of public
instruction shall modify the statewide student data system as needed.
The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall also
incorporate training for school staff on best practices for collection
of data on student race and ethnicity in other training or professional
development related to data provided by the office.
Sec. 126 RCW 28A.300.505 and 2007 c 401 s 5 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall
develop standards for school data systems that focus on validation and
verification of data entered into the systems to ensure accuracy and
compatibility of data. The standards shall address but are not limited
to the following topics:
(a) Date validation;
(b) Code validation, which includes gender, race or ethnicity, and
other code elements;
(c) Decimal and integer validation; and
(d) Required field validation as defined by state and federal
requirements.
(2) The superintendent of public instruction shall develop a
reporting format and instructions for school districts to collect and
submit data on student demographics that is disaggregated ((by distinct
ethnic categories within racial subgroups so that analyses may be
conducted on student achievement using the disaggregated data)) as
required under RCW 28A.300.042.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 201 (1) The legislature finds that a clear
definition of professional learning provides a foundational vision that
sets the course for how state, regional, and local education leaders
support educator development. A shared, statewide definition is a
piece of critical infrastructure to guide policy and investments in the
content, structure, and provision of the types of professional
development that are associated with increased student performance.
(2) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, in
partnership with the professional educator standards board, the
educational service districts, and other experts and practitioners,
shall create a common definition for professional learning. The office
must submit the definition to the education committees of the
legislature by January 15, 2014, along with a recommended framework for
how the definition may be used to guide and inform state, regional, and
local policy and investments in professional development that will have
the highest anticipated return on investment in terms of increased
student performance.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 202 A new section is added to chapter 28A.415
RCW to read as follows:
(1) The educator support program is established to provide
professional development and mentor support for beginning educators and
educators on probation under RCW 28A.405.100. Funds may be allocated
to individual school districts or consortia of districts. School
districts are encouraged to include educational service districts in
creating regional consortia. A portion of the appropriated funds may
be used for program coordination and provision of statewide or regional
professional development through the office of the superintendent of
public instruction.
(2) An educator support program under this section must include the
following components:
(a) A paid orientation or individualized assistance before the
start of the school year for beginning educators;
(b) Assignment of a trained and qualified mentor for the first
three years for beginning educators, with intensive support in the
first year and decreasing support over the following years depending on
the needs of the beginning educator. Mentors shall also be assigned to
educators on probation;
(c) Professional development for beginning educators and educators
on probation that is designed to meet their unique needs for
supplemental training and skill development;
(d) Professional development for mentors;
(e) Release time for mentors and their designated educators to work
together, as well as time for educators to observe accomplished peers;
and
(f) A program evaluation using a standard evaluation tool provided
from the office of the superintendent of public instruction that
measures increased knowledge, skills, and positive impact on student
learning for program participants.
Sec. 203 RCW 28A.415.010 and 2006 c 263 s 807 are each amended to
read as follows:
It shall be the responsibility of each educational service district
board to establish a center for the improvement of teaching. The
center shall administer, coordinate, and act as fiscal agent for such
programs related to the recruitment and training of certificated and
classified K-12 education personnel as may be delegated to the center
by the superintendent of public instruction under RCW 28A.310.470. To
assist in these activities, each educational service district board
shall establish an improvement of teaching coordinating council to
include, at a minimum, representatives as specified in RCW 28A.415.040.
An existing in-service training task force, established pursuant to RCW
28A.415.040, may serve as the improvement of teaching coordinating
council. The educational service district board shall ensure
coordination of programs established pursuant to RCW 28A.415.030,
28A.410.060, and ((28A.415.250)) section 202 of this act.
The educational service district board may arrange each year for
the holding of one or more teachers' institutes and/or workshops for
professional staff preparation and in-service training in such manner
and at such time as the board believes will be of benefit to the
teachers and other professional staff of school districts within the
educational service district and shall comply with rules of the
professional educator standards board pursuant to RCW 28A.410.060 or
the superintendent of public instruction ((pursuant to RCW
28A.415.250)). The board may provide such additional means of teacher
and other professional staff preparation and in-service training as it
may deem necessary or appropriate and there shall be a proper charge
against the educational service district general expense fund when
approved by the educational service district board.
Educational service district boards of contiguous educational
service districts, by mutual arrangements, may hold joint institutes
and/or workshops, the expenses to be shared in proportion to the
numbers of certificated personnel as shown by the last annual reports
of the educational service districts holding such joint institutes or
workshops.
In local school districts employing more than one hundred teachers
and other professional staff, the school district superintendent may
hold a teachers' institute of one or more days in such district, said
institute when so held by the school district superintendent to be in
all respects governed by the provisions of this title and rules
relating to teachers' institutes held by educational service district
superintendents.
Sec. 204 RCW 28C.18.162 and 2009 c 238 s 3 are each amended to
read as follows:
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in
this section apply throughout this section and RCW 28C.18.160 and
28C.18.164 through 28C.18.168.
(1) "High-demand occupation" means an occupation with a substantial
number of current or projected employment opportunities. For the
purposes of opportunity internships, the teaching of mathematics,
science, bilingual education, special education, or English as a second
language is considered a high-demand occupation.
(2) "Low-income high school student" means a student who is
enrolled in grade((s)) ten, eleven, or twelve in a public high school
and who qualifies for federal free or reduced-price meals. If a
student qualifies at the time the student begins participating in the
opportunity internship program, the student remains eligible even if
the student does not receive free or reduced-price meals thereafter.
To participate in the program, the student must remain enrolled in high
school until the student receives a high school diploma.
(3) "Opportunity internship consortium" means a local consortium
formed for the purpose of participating in the opportunity internship
program and which may be composed of a local workforce development
council, economic development council, area high schools, community or
technical colleges, apprenticeship councils, preapprenticeship programs
such as running start for the trades, private vocational schools
licensed under chapter 28C.10 RCW, public and private four-year
institutions of higher education, employers in targeted industries, and
labor organizations. Partnerships of high schools, teacher preparation
programs, and community-based organizations offering the program under
RCW 28A.415.370 may be considered opportunity internship consortia.
(4) "Opportunity internship graduate" means a low-income high
school student who successfully completes an opportunity internship
program and graduates from high school.
(5) "Postsecondary program of study" means an undergraduate or
graduate certificate, apprenticeship, or degree program.
(6) "Preapprenticeship" means a program of at least ninety hours
and not more than one hundred eighty hours in length that provides
practical experience, education, preparation, and the development of
skills that would be beneficial for entry into state-approved
apprenticeship programs, including but not limited to construction
industry structure and the construction process; orientation to state-approved apprenticeship; tools of the various trades and safe handling
of power tools; and industry standards of safety, responsibility, and
craft excellence.
(7) "Targeted industry" means a business or industry identified by
a local workforce development council as having high-demand occupations
that require candidates to have completed a postsecondary program of
study.
Sec. 205 RCW 28A.660.040 and 2010 c 235 s 504 are each amended to
read as follows:
Alternative route programs under this chapter shall operate one to
four specific route programs. Successful completion of the program
shall make a candidate eligible for residency teacher certification.
The mentor of the teacher candidate at the school and the supervisor of
the teacher candidate from the teacher preparation program must both
agree that the teacher candidate has successfully completed the
program.
(1) Alternative route programs operating route one programs shall
enroll currently employed classified instructional employees with
transferable associate degrees or former participants in the recruiting
Washington teachers program who enter through the pipeline for
paraeducators conditional scholarship program under RCW 28A.660.042 who
are seeking residency teacher certification with endorsements in
mathematics, special education, bilingual education, or English as a
second language. It is anticipated that candidates enrolled in this
route will complete both their baccalaureate degree and requirements
for residency certification in two years or less, including a mentored
internship to be completed in the final year. In addition, partnership
programs shall uphold entry requirements for candidates that include:
(a) District or building validation of qualifications, including
one year of successful student interaction and leadership as a
classified instructional employee;
(b) Successful passage of the statewide basic skills exam; and
(c) Meeting the age, good moral character, and personal fitness
requirements adopted by rule for teachers.
(2) Alternative route programs operating route two programs shall
enroll currently employed classified staff with baccalaureate degrees
seeking residency teacher certification in subject matter shortage
areas and areas with shortages due to geographic location. Candidates
enrolled in this route must complete a mentored internship complemented
by flexibly scheduled training and coursework offered at a local site,
such as a school or educational service district, or online or via
video-conference over the K-20 network, in collaboration with the
partnership program's higher education partner. In addition,
partnership grant programs shall uphold entry requirements for
candidates that include:
(a) District or building validation of qualifications, including
one year of successful student interaction and leadership as classified
staff;
(b) A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
of higher education. The individual's college or university grade
point average may be considered as a selection factor;
(c) Successful completion of the subject matter assessment required
by RCW 28A.410.220(3);
(d) Meeting the age, good moral character, and personal fitness
requirements adopted by rule for teachers; and
(e) Successful passage of the statewide basic skills exam.
(3) Alternative route programs seeking funds to operate route three
programs shall enroll individuals with baccalaureate degrees, who are
not employed in the district at the time of application. When
selecting candidates for certification through route three, districts
and approved preparation program providers shall give priority to
individuals who are seeking residency teacher certification in subject
matter shortage areas or shortages due to geographic locations.
Cohorts of candidates for this route shall attend an intensive summer
teaching academy, followed by a full year employed by a district in a
mentored internship, followed, if necessary, by a second summer
teaching academy. In addition, partnership programs shall uphold entry
requirements for candidates that include:
(a) A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
of higher education. The individual's grade point average may be
considered as a selection factor;
(b) Successful completion of the subject matter assessment required
by RCW 28A.410.220(3);
(c) External validation of qualifications, including demonstrated
successful experience with students or children, such as reference
letters and letters of support from previous employers;
(d) Meeting the age, good moral character, and personal fitness
requirements adopted by rule for teachers; and
(e) Successful passage of statewide basic skills exam.
(4) Alternative route programs operating route four programs shall
enroll individuals with baccalaureate degrees, who are employed in the
district at the time of application, or who hold conditional teaching
certificates or emergency substitute certificates. Cohorts of
candidates for this route shall attend an intensive summer teaching
academy, followed by a full year employed by a district in a mentored
internship. If employed on a conditional certificate, the intern may
serve as the teacher of record, supported by a well-trained mentor. In
addition, partnership programs shall uphold entry requirements for
candidates that include:
(a) A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
of higher education. The individual's grade point average may be
considered as a selection factor;
(b) Successful completion of the subject matter assessment required
by RCW 28A.410.220(3);
(c) External validation of qualifications, including demonstrated
successful experience with students or children, such as reference
letters and letters of support from previous employers;
(d) Meeting the age, good moral character, and personal fitness
requirements adopted by rule for teachers; and
(e) Successful passage of statewide basic skills exam.
(5) Applicants for alternative route programs who are eligible
veterans or national guard members and who meet the entry requirements
for the alternative route program for which application is made shall
be given preference in admission.
Sec. 206 RCW 28A.660.042 and 2007 c 396 s 6 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The pipeline for paraeducators conditional scholarship program
is created.
(2)(a) Except as provided under subsection (3) of this section,
participation is limited to paraeducators without a college degree who
have at least three years of classroom experience. It is anticipated
that candidates enrolled in this program will complete their associate
of arts degree at a community and technical college in two years or
less and become eligible for a mathematics, special education, or
English as a second language endorsement via route one in the
alternative routes to teacher certification program provided in this
chapter.
(((2))) (b) Entry requirements for candidates under this subsection
(2) include district or building validation of qualifications,
including three years of successful student interaction and leadership
as a classified instructional employee.
(3) Subject to the availability of funds for the pipeline for
paraeducators conditional scholarship program under RCW 28A.660.050,
after qualified candidates under subsection (2) of this section have
been accepted, individuals who participated in one of the recruiting
Washington teachers grant programs under RCW 28A.415.370 may
participate in the pipeline for paraeducators conditional scholarship
program if the individual meets the criteria for the scholarship under
RCW 28A.660.050.
Sec. 207 RCW 28A.660.045 and 2007 c 396 s 7 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The educator retooling (to teach mathematics and science))
conditional scholarship program is created. Participation is limited
to current K-12 teachers and individuals having an elementary education
certificate but who are not employed in positions requiring an
elementary education certificate. It is anticipated that candidates
enrolled in this program will complete the requirements for a
mathematics ((or)), science, special education, bilingual education, or
English language learner endorsement((, or both,)) in two years or
less.
(2) Entry requirements for candidates include:
(a) Current K-12 teachers shall pursue a middle level mathematics
or science, ((or)) secondary mathematics or science, special education,
bilingual education, or English language learner endorsement.
(b) Individuals having an elementary education certificate but who
are not employed in positions requiring an elementary education
certificate shall pursue an endorsement only in middle level
mathematics or science ((only)), special education, bilingual
education, or English language learner.
Sec. 208 RCW 28A.660.050 and 2012 c 229 s 507 are each amended to
read as follows:
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for these
purposes, the conditional scholarship programs in this chapter are
created under the following guidelines:
(1) The programs shall be administered by the student achievement
council. In administering the programs, the council has the following
powers and duties:
(a) To adopt necessary rules and develop guidelines to administer
the programs;
(b) To collect and manage repayments from participants who do not
meet their service obligations; and
(c) To accept grants and donations from public and private sources
for the programs.
(2) Requirements for participation in the conditional scholarship
programs are as provided in this subsection (2).
(a) The alternative route conditional scholarship program is
limited to interns of professional educator standards board-approved
alternative routes to teaching programs under RCW 28A.660.040. For
fiscal year 2011, priority must be given to fiscal year 2010
participants in the alternative route partnership program. In order to
receive conditional scholarship awards, recipients shall:
(i) Be accepted and maintain enrollment in alternative
certification routes through a professional educator standards board-approved program;
(ii) Continue to make satisfactory progress toward completion of
the alternative route certification program and receipt of a residency
teaching certificate; and
(iii) Receive no more than the annual amount of the scholarship,
not to exceed eight thousand dollars, for the cost of tuition, fees,
and educational expenses, including books, supplies, and transportation
for the alternative route certification program in which the recipient
is enrolled. The council may adjust the annual award by the average
rate of resident undergraduate tuition and fee increases at the state
universities as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.
(b) The pipeline for paraeducators conditional scholarship program
is limited to qualified ((paraeducators)) individuals as provided by
RCW 28A.660.042. Paraeducators who apply for the program under RCW
28A.660.042(2) shall receive first priority in scholarship awards. In
order to receive conditional scholarship awards, recipients shall:
(i) Be accepted and maintain enrollment at a community and
technical college for no more than two years and attain an associate of
arts degree;
(ii) Continue to make satisfactory progress toward completion of an
associate of arts degree. This progress requirement is a condition for
eligibility into a route one program of the alternative routes to
teacher certification program for a mathematics, special education, or
English as a second language endorsement; and
(iii) Receive no more than the annual amount of the scholarship,
not to exceed four thousand dollars, for the cost of tuition, fees, and
educational expenses, including books, supplies, and transportation for
the alternative route certification program in which the recipient is
enrolled. The student achievement council may adjust the annual award
by the average rate of tuition and fee increases at the state community
and technical colleges.
(c) The educator retooling ((to teach mathematics and science))
conditional scholarship program is limited to current K-12 teachers.
In order to receive conditional scholarship awards:
(i) Individuals currently employed as teachers shall pursue a
middle level mathematics or science, ((or)) secondary mathematics or
science, special education, bilingual education, or English language
learner endorsement; or
(ii) Individuals who are certificated with an elementary education
endorsement shall pursue an endorsement in middle level mathematics or
science, ((or both)) special education, bilingual education, or English
language learner; and
(iii) Individuals shall use one of the pathways to endorsement
processes to receive ((a mathematics or science)) the endorsement, ((or
both,)) which shall include passing ((a mathematics or science)) the
associated endorsement test((,)) or ((both)) tests, plus observation
and completing applicable coursework to attain the proper endorsement;
and
(iv) Individuals shall receive no more than the annual amount of
the scholarship, not to exceed three thousand dollars, for the cost of
tuition, test fees, and educational expenses, including books,
supplies, and transportation for the endorsement pathway being pursued.
(3) The Washington professional educator standards board shall
select individuals to receive conditional scholarships. In selecting
recipients, preference shall be given to eligible veterans or national
guard members. In awarding educator retooling scholarships to support
additional bilingual education and English language learner
endorsements, the board shall give preference to: Teachers seeking
endorsements in order to be assigned to the transitional bilingual
instructional program under the provisions of RCW 28A.180.040(2),
teachers assigned to schools required under state or federal
accountability measures to implement a plan for improvement, and
teachers assigned to schools whose enrollment of English language
learner students has increased an average of more than five percent per
year over the previous three years.
(4) For the purpose of this chapter, a conditional scholarship is
a loan that is forgiven in whole or in part in exchange for service as
a certificated teacher employed in a Washington state K-12 public
school. The state shall forgive one year of loan obligation for every
two years a recipient teaches in a public school. Recipients who fail
to continue a course of study leading to residency teacher
certification or cease to teach in a public school in the state of
Washington in their endorsement area are required to repay the
remaining loan principal with interest.
(5) Recipients who fail to fulfill the required teaching obligation
are required to repay the remaining loan principal with interest and
any other applicable fees. The student achievement council shall adopt
rules to define the terms for repayment, including applicable interest
rates, fees, and deferments. The student achievement council must
provide regular reports to the professional educator standards board
that include the enrollment, employment, and repayment status of
recipients of all scholarships under this section and the certificate
number of recipients who have successfully completed a certification
program.
(6) The student achievement council may deposit all appropriations,
collections, and any other funds received for the program in this
chapter in the future teachers conditional scholarship account
authorized in RCW 28B.102.080. Funds received by the professional
educator standards board for the program in this chapter may be
transferred to the student achievement council for deposit in the
future teachers conditional scholarship account.
Sec. 209 RCW 28A.405.106 and 2012 c 35 s 5 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) Subject to funds appropriated for this purpose, the office of
the superintendent of public instruction must develop and make
available a professional development program to support the
implementation of the evaluation systems required by RCW 28A.405.100.
The program components may be organized into professional development
modules for principals, administrators, and teachers. The professional
development program shall include a comprehensive online training
package.
(2) The training program must include, but not be limited to, the
following topics:
(a) Introduction of the evaluation criteria for teachers and
principals and the four-level rating system;
(b) Orientation to and use of instructional frameworks;
(c) Orientation to and use of the leadership frameworks;
(d) Best practices in developing and using data in the evaluation
systems, including multiple measures, student growth data, classroom
observations, and other measures and evidence;
(e) Strategies for achieving maximum rater agreement;
(f) Evaluator feedback protocols in the evaluation systems;
(g) Examples of high quality teaching and leadership; and
(h) Methods to link the evaluation process to ongoing educator
professional development.
(3) The training program must also include the foundational
elements of cultural competence, focusing on multicultural education
and principles of English language acquisition. The content of the
training must be aligned with the standards for cultural competence
developed by the professional educator standards board under RCW
28A.410.270. The office of the superintendent of public instruction,
in consultation with the professional educator standards board, the
steering committee established in RCW 28A.405.100, and the educational
opportunity gap oversight and accountability committee, must integrate
the content for cultural competence into the overall training for
principals, administrators, and teachers to support the revised
evaluation systems.
(4) To the maximum extent feasible, the professional development
program must incorporate or adapt existing online training or
curriculum, including securing materials or curriculum under contract
or purchase agreements within available funds. Multiple modes of
instruction should be incorporated including videos of classroom
teaching, participatory exercises, and other engaging combinations of
online audio, video, and print presentation.
(((4))) (5) The professional development program must be developed
in modules that allow:
(a) Access to material over a reasonable number of training
sessions;
(b) Delivery in person or online; and
(c) Use in a self-directed manner.
(((5))) (6) The office of the superintendent of public instruction
must maintain a web site that includes the online professional
development materials along with sample evaluation forms and templates,
links to relevant research on evaluation and on high quality teaching
and leadership, samples of contract and collective bargaining language
on key topics, examples of multiple measures of teacher and principal
performance, suggestions for data to measure student growth, and other
tools that will assist school districts in implementing the revised
evaluation systems.
(((6))) (7) The office of the superintendent of public instruction
must identify the number of in-service training hours associated with
each professional development module and develop a way for users to
document their completion of the training. Documented completion of
the training under this section is considered approved in-service
training for the purposes of RCW 28A.415.020.
(((7))) (8) The office of the superintendent of public instruction
shall periodically update the modules to reflect new topics and
research on performance evaluation so that the training serves as an
ongoing source of continuing education and professional development.
(((8))) (9) The office of the superintendent of public instruction
shall work with the educational service districts to provide
clearinghouse services for the identification and publication of
professional development opportunities for teachers and principals that
align with performance evaluation criteria.
Sec. 210 RCW 28A.405.120 and 2012 c 35 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) School districts shall require each administrator, each
principal, or other supervisory personnel who has responsibility for
evaluating classroom teachers or principals to have training in
evaluation procedures.
(2) Before school district implementation of the revised evaluation
systems required under RCW 28A.405.100, principals and administrators
who have evaluation responsibilities must engage in professional
development designed to implement the revised systems and maximize
rater agreement. The professional development to support the revised
evaluation systems must also include foundational elements of cultural
competence, focusing on multicultural education and principles of
English language acquisition.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 211 A new section is added to chapter 28A.415
RCW to read as follows:
(1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, in
collaboration with the educational opportunity gap oversight and
accountability committee, the professional educator standards board,
colleges of education, and representatives from diverse communities and
community-based organizations, must develop a content outline for
professional development and training in cultural competence for school
staff.
(2) The content of the cultural competence professional development
and training must be aligned with the standards developed by the
professional educator standards board under RCW 28A.410.270.
(3) The cultural competence professional development and training
must contain components that are appropriate for classified school
staff and district administrators as well as certificated instructional
staff and principals at the building level. The professional
development and training must also contain components suitable for
delivery by individuals from the local community or community-based
organizations with appropriate expertise.
(4) The legislature encourages educational service districts and
school districts to use the cultural competence professional
development and training developed under this section and provide
opportunities for all school and school district staff to gain
knowledge and skills in cultural competence, including in partnership
with their local communities.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 212 A new section is added to chapter 28A.657
RCW to read as follows:
Schools that are required under state or federal accountability
measures to implement a plan for improvement must provide the cultural
competence professional development and training developed under
section 211 of this act for classified, certificated instructional, and
administrative staff of the school. The professional development and
training may be delivered by an educational service district, through
district in-service, or by another qualified provider, including in
partnership with the local community.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 213 A new section is added to chapter 28A.657
RCW to read as follows:
At the beginning of each school year, the office of the
superintendent of public instruction shall identify schools that
experienced a significant increase during the previous two school years
in enrollment of English language learner students as compared to
previous enrollment trends. The office shall notify the schools, and
school districts in which the schools are located must provide the
cultural competence professional development and training developed
under section 211 of this act for classified, certificated
instructional, and administrative staff of the schools. The
professional development and training may be delivered by an
educational service district, through district in-service, or by
another qualified provider, including in partnership with the local
community.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 214 (1) The professional educator standards
board and the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall
convene a work group to revise and update the model framework and
curriculum, as well as the program of study, for high school career and
technical education courses related to careers in education.
(2) The revised careers in education courses must incorporate:
(a) Standards for cultural competence developed by the professional
educator standards board under RCW 28A.410.270;
(b) The most recent competency standards established by the
professional educator standards board and new research on best
practices for educator preparation and development; and
(c) Curriculum and activities used by the recruiting Washington
teachers program under RCW 28A.415.370.
(3) The revisions must be completed before the 2014-15 school year.
(4) This section expires September 1, 2015.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 215 A new section is added to chapter 28A.410
RCW to read as follows:
(1) The professional educator standards board shall convene a work
group to design program-specific paraeducator professional development
and recommend minimum qualifications for paraeducators, as well as an
articulated pathway for teacher preparation and certification that has
the characteristics described in this section. The work group must
include representatives of community and technical college paraeducator
apprenticeship and certificate programs, colleges of education, teacher
and paraeducator associations, and the office of the superintendent of
public instruction.
(2) An articulated pathway for teacher preparation and
certification includes:
(a) Paraeducator certificate and apprenticeship programs that offer
course credits that apply to transferrable associate degrees and are
aligned with the standards and competencies for teachers adopted by the
professional educator standards board;
(b) Associate degree programs that build on and do not duplicate
the courses and competencies of paraeducator certificate programs,
incorporate field experiences, are aligned with the standards and
competencies for teachers adopted by the professional educator
standards board, and are transferrable to bachelor's degree in
education programs and teacher certification programs;
(c) Bachelor's degree programs that lead to teacher certification
that build on and do not duplicate the courses and competencies of
transferrable associate degrees; and
(d) Incorporation of the standards for cultural competence
developed by the professional educator standards board under RCW
28A.410.270 throughout the courses and curriculum of the pathway,
particularly focusing on multicultural education and principles of
language acquisition.
(3) The work group shall design professional development and
recommend minimum qualifications for paraeducators in the following
programs:
(a) Transitional bilingual instructional program;
(b) Learning assistance program;
(c) Special education; and
(d) General education.
(4) The professional educator standards board must submit a report
to the education committees of the legislature by January 10, 2014,
containing:
(a) A comparison of the current status of pathways for teacher
certification to the elements of the articulated pathway. The report
must highlight gaps and recommend strategies to address them;
(b) Appropriate program-specific professional development that
should be made available to paraeducators, including online learning
opportunities; and
(c) Recommended minimum qualifications for paraeducators in
specified programs.
(5) The professional educator standards board and the state board
for community and technical colleges may exercise their respective
authorities regarding program approval to implement the articulated
pathway for teacher preparation and certification under this section in
approved teacher certification programs and certificate and degree
programs offered by community and technical colleges.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 216 A new section is added to chapter 28B.50
RCW to read as follows:
Beginning with the 2014-15 academic year, any community or
technical college that offers an apprenticeship program or certificate
program for paraeducators must provide candidates the opportunity to
earn transferrable course credits within the program. The programs
must also incorporate the standards for cultural competence, including
multicultural education and principles of language acquisition,
developed by the professional educator standards board under RCW
28A.410.270.
Sec. 301 RCW 28A.175.025 and 2007 c 408 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this purpose,
the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall ((create
a grant program and)) award grants to local partnerships of schools,
families, and communities to ((begin the phase in of a statewide
comprehensive)) design and implement a K-12 dropout prevention,
intervention, and ((retrieval)) reengagement system as defined in RCW
28A.175.074. ((This program)) For purposes of RCW 28A.175.025 through
28A.175.075, these grants shall be known as ((the)) building bridges
((program)) grants.
(((1) For purposes of RCW 28A.175.025 through 28A.175.075, a
"building bridges program" means a local partnership of schools,
families, and communities that provides all of the following programs
or activities:))
(a) A system that identifies individual students at risk of
dropping out from middle through high school based on local predictive
data, including state assessment data starting in the fourth grade, and
provides timely interventions for such students and for dropouts,
including a plan for educational success as already required by the
student learning plan as defined under RCW 28A.655.061. Students
identified shall include foster care youth, youth involved in the
juvenile justice system, and students receiving special education
services under chapter 28A.155 RCW;
(b) Coaches or mentors for students as necessary;
(c) Staff responsible for coordination of community partners that
provide a seamless continuum of academic and nonacademic support in
schools and communities;
(d) Retrieval or reentry activities; and
(e) Alternative educational programming, including, but not limited
to, career and technical education exploratory and preparatory programs
and online learning opportunities.
(2) One of the grants awarded under this section shall be for a
two-year demonstration project focusing on providing fifth through
twelfth grade students with a program that utilizes technology and is
integrated with state standards, basic academics, cross-cultural
exposures, and age-appropriate preemployment training. The project
shall:
(a) Establish programs in two western Washington and one eastern
Washington urban areas;
(b) Identify at-risk students in each of the distinct communities
and populations and implement strategies to close the achievement gap;
(c) Collect and report data on participant characteristics and
outcomes of the project, including the characteristics and outcomes
specified under RCW 28A.175.035(1)(e); and
(d) Submit a report to the legislature by December 1, 2009.
Sec. 302 RCW 28A.175.035 and 2011 c 288 s 9 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall:
(a) Identify criteria for building bridges grants and evaluate
proposals for funding in consultation with the workforce training and
education coordinating board;
(b) Develop and monitor requirements for grant recipients to:
(i) Use a dropout early warning and intervention system to identify
students who ((both fail the Washington assessment of student learning
and drop)) are at risk for academic failure and use data systems to
identify youth who have already dropped out of school;
(ii) Identify their own strengths and gaps in services provided to
youth;
(iii) Set their own local goals for program outcomes;
(iv) Use research-based and emerging best practices that lead to
positive outcomes in implementing ((the building bridges)) a local
program; and
(v) Coordinate an outreach campaign to bring public and private
organizations together and to provide information about ((the))
building bridges ((program)) grants to the local community;
(c) In setting the requirements under (b) of this subsection,
encourage creativity and provide for flexibility in implementing
((the)) a local program using the building bridges ((program)) grants;
(d) Identify and disseminate successful practices;
(e) Develop requirements for grant recipients to collect and report
data, including, but not limited to:
(i) The number of and demographics of students served including,
but not limited to, information regarding a student's race and
ethnicity, a student's household income, a student's housing status,
whether a student is a foster youth or youth involved in the juvenile
justice system, whether a student is disabled, and the primary language
spoken at a student's home;
(ii) ((Washington assessment of student learning)) Scores on the
statewide student assessment;
(iii) Dropout rates;
(iv) On-time graduation rates;
(v) Extended graduation rates;
(vi) Credentials obtained;
(vii) Absenteeism rates;
(viii) Truancy rates; and
(ix) Credit retrieval; and
(f) Contract with a third party to evaluate the infrastructure and
implementation of the partnership including the leveraging of outside
resources that relate to the goal of the partnership. The third-party
contractor shall also evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the
partnerships relative to the type of entity, as identified in RCW
28A.175.045, serving as the lead agency for the partnership((; and)).
(g) Report to the legislature by December 1, 2008
(2) In performing its duties under this section, the office of the
superintendent of public instruction is encouraged to consult with the
work group ((identified)) established in RCW 28A.175.075.
(3) In selecting recipients for grant funds appropriated under RCW
28A.175.135, the office of the superintendent of public instruction
shall use a streamlined and expedited application and review process
for those programs that have already proven to be successful in dropout
prevention.
Sec. 303 RCW 28A.175.045 and 2007 c 408 s 4 are each amended to
read as follows:
In awarding ((the grants under RCW 28A.175.025)) building bridges
grants, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall
prioritize schools or districts with dropout rates above the statewide
average and shall attempt to award ((building bridges program)) grants
to different geographic regions of the state. Eligible recipients
shall be one of the following entities acting as a lead agency for the
local partnership: A school district, a tribal school, an area
workforce development council, an educational service district, an
accredited institution of higher education, a vocational skills center,
a federally recognized tribe, a community organization, or a nonprofit
501(c)(3) corporation. If the recipient is not a school district, at
least one school district must be identified within the partnership.
The superintendent of public instruction shall ensure that grants are
distributed proportionately between school districts and other
recipients. This requirement may be waived if the superintendent of
public instruction finds that the quality of the programs or
applications from these entities does not warrant the awarding of the
grants proportionately.
Sec. 304 RCW 28A.175.055 and 2007 c 408 s 5 are each amended to
read as follows:
To be eligible for a building bridges grant ((under RCW
28A.175.025)), grant applicants shall:
(1) Build or demonstrate a commitment to building a broad-based
partnership of schools, families, and community members to provide an
effective and efficient ((building bridges program)) K-12 dropout
prevention, intervention, and reengagement system. The partnership
shall consider an effective model for school-community partnerships and
include local membership from, but not limited to, school districts,
tribal schools, secondary career and technical education programs,
skill centers that serve the local community, an educational service
district, the area workforce development council, accredited
institutions of higher education, tribes or other cultural
organizations, the parent teacher association, the juvenile court,
prosecutors and defenders, the local health department, health care
agencies, public transportation agencies, local division
representatives of the department of social and health services,
businesses, city or county government agencies, civic organizations,
and appropriate youth-serving community-based organizations.
Interested parents and students shall be actively included whenever
possible;
(2) Demonstrate how the grant will enhance any dropout prevention
and intervention programs and services already in place in the
district;
(3) Provide a twenty-five percent match that may include in-kind
resources from within the partnership;
(4) Track and report data required by the grant; and
(5) Describe how the dropout prevention, intervention, and
((retrieval)) reengagement system will be sustained after initial
funding, including roles of each of the partners.
Sec. 305 RCW 28A.175.074 and 2010 c 243 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
The definitions in this section apply throughout ((section 3,
chapter 243, Laws of 2010 and RCW 28A.175.075)) this chapter unless the
context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) (("Critical community members" means representatives in the
local community from among the following agencies and organizations:
Student/parent organizations, parents and families, local government,
law enforcement, juvenile corrections, any tribal organization in the
local school district, the local health district, nonprofit and social
service organizations serving youth, and faith organizations.)) "Dropout early warning and intervention ((
(2)data)) system"
means a systemic approach to identify students at risk of dropping out
and an intervention process to link identified students to the
appropriate services and support, relying on a student information
system that provides the necessary data ((needed to conduct a universal
screening to identify students at risk of dropping out, catalog student
interventions, and monitor student progress towards graduation)) in an
easily interpreted format.
(2) "Graduation coach" means an individual, working in consultation
with counselors and other school staff as provided in the model policy
on graduation coaches developed by the office of the superintendent of
public instruction in 2012, who is assigned to identify and provide
intervention services to students who have dropped out or are at risk
of academic failure or of not graduating on time through the following
activities:
(a) Monitoring and advising on individual student progress toward
graduation;
(b) Providing student support services and case management;
(c) Motivating students to focus on a graduation plan;
(d) Encouraging parent and community involvement;
(e) Connecting parents and students with appropriate school and
community resources;
(f) Securing supplemental academic services for students;
(g) Implementing schoolwide dropout prevention programs and
interventions; and
(h) Analyzing data to identify at-risk students.
(3) "K-12 dropout prevention, intervention, and reengagement
system" means a system that provides all of the following functions:
(a) Engaging in school improvement planning specifically focused on
improving high school graduation rates and other indicators correlated
to being on track for graduation, including goal-setting and action
planning, based on a comprehensive assessment of strengths and
challenges;
(b) Providing prevention activities including, but not limited to,
emotionally and physically safe school environments, implementation of
a comprehensive system of learning support with tiered intervention,
social-emotional and behavioral skills development, expanded
opportunities for students to develop sustained and meaningful
relationships with caring adults, a comprehensive guidance and
counseling model facilitated by certified school counselors or other
qualified staff, core academic instruction, frequent feedback on
student progress, and career and technical education exploratory and
preparatory programs;
(c) Identifying vulnerable students based on a dropout early
warning and intervention ((data)) system;
(d) Providing timely academic and nonacademic group and individual
interventions for vulnerable students based on ((a)) the specific
challenges and assets of each child by using a tiered intervention
system such as the response to intervention model, ((including))
planning and sharing ((of)) information at critical academic
transitions, using intervention resources from the school system and
the broader community, and assessing the effectiveness of each
intervention provided;
(e) Providing graduation coaches, school success coaches, mentors,
certified school counselors, ((and/or)) or case managers for vulnerable
students identified as needing a more intensive one-on-one adult
relationship;
(f) Establishing and providing staff to coordinate a
((school/family/community)) school, family, and community partnership
that assists in building ((a K-12 dropout prevention, intervention, and
reengagement)) the system;
(g) Providing retrieval or reentry activities; ((and))
(h) Providing alternative educational programming including, but
not limited to, credit retrieval and online learning opportunities; and
(i) Designing and providing wraparound services to support
vulnerable students.
(4) (("School/family/community partnership" means a partnership
between a school or schools, families, and the community, that engages
critical community members in a formal, structured partnership with
local school districts in a coordinated effort to provide comprehensive
support services and improve outcomes for vulnerable youth.)) "School
success coach" means an individual, working in consultation with
counselors and other school staff, who is assigned to identify and
provide early intervention services for students using similar
strategies as a graduation coach, but targeted toward elementary and
middle school students to facilitate their continued enrollment,
engagement, and progress in school.
(5) "Vulnerable students" means students who are in foster care,
involved in the juvenile justice system, receiving special education
services under chapter 28A.155 RCW, recent immigrants, homeless,
emotionally traumatized, or are facing behavioral health issues, and
students deemed at-risk of school failure as identified by a dropout
early warning data system or other assessment.
(6) "Wraparound services" means a team-based approach to delivering
dropout prevention and intervention services that is based on the needs
and strengths of students and their families; uses an array of
community and regional resources; addresses academic, social,
emotional, health, and economic issues as needed; and is culturally
competent and outcome-based.
Sec. 306 RCW 28A.175.075 and 2010 c 243 s 4 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall
establish a state-level ((building bridges)) work group that includes
K-12 and state agencies that work with youth who have dropped out or
are at risk of dropping out of school, to be known as the graduation:
a team effort (GATE) work group. The purpose of the GATE work group is
to establish a common vision and agenda for helping all students reach
high school graduation. The following agencies shall appoint
representatives to the work group: The office of the superintendent of
public instruction, the workforce training and education coordinating
board, the department of early learning, the employment security
department, the state board for community and technical colleges, the
department of health, the community mobilization office, and the
children's services and behavioral health and recovery divisions of the
department of social and health services. The work group should also
consist of one representative from each of the following agencies and
organizations: A statewide organization representing career and
technical education programs including skill centers; the juvenile
courts or the office of juvenile justice, or both; the Washington
association of prosecuting attorneys; the Washington state office of
public defense; accredited institutions of higher education; the
educational service districts; the area workforce development councils;
parent and educator associations; ((achievement)) educational
opportunity gap oversight and accountability committee; office of the
education ombudsman; local school districts; agencies or organizations
that provide services to special education students; community
organizations serving youth; federally recognized tribes and urban
tribal centers; ((each of the major political caucuses of the senate
and house of representatives;)) and the minority commissions. Other
agencies, organizations, or individuals may be invited to participate
in the work group.
(2) ((To assist and enhance the work of the building bridges
programs established in RCW 28A.175.025,)) The ((state-level)) GATE
work group shall:
(a) Build on the materials and work accomplished by the building
bridges work group first established in 2007;
(b) Align the objectives and operation of individual dropout
prevention, intervention, and reengagement programs and initiatives,
including but not limited to the various programs established under
this chapter;
(c) Convene working subgroups as needed to support development of
a statewide K-12 dropout prevention, intervention, and reengagement
system;
(d) Identify and make recommendations to the legislature for the
reduction of fiscal, legal, and regulatory barriers that prevent
coordination of program resources across agencies at the state and
local level;
(((b))) (e) Develop and track performance measures and benchmarks
for each partner agency or organization across the state including
performance measures and benchmarks based on student characteristics
and outcomes specified in RCW 28A.175.035(1)(e); and
(((c))) (f) Identify and disseminate research-based and emerging
best practices regarding prevention, intervention, and ((retrieval))
reengagement programs.
(3)(((a) The work group shall report to the quality education
council, appropriate committees of the legislature, and the governor on
an annual basis beginning December 1, 2007, with proposed strategies
for building K-12 dropout prevention, intervention, and reengagement
systems in local communities throughout the state including, but not
limited to, recommendations for implementing emerging best practices,
needed additional resources, and eliminating barriers.)) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall
submit a biennial report to the education committees of the legislature
by December 1st of each odd-numbered year that includes activities
undertaken and measurable indicators of progress toward achieving a
statewide K-12 dropout prevention, intervention, and reengagement
system.
(b) By September 15, 2010, the work group shall report on:
(i) A recommended state goal and annual state targets for the
percentage of students graduating from high school;
(ii) A recommended state goal and annual state targets for the
percentage of youth who have dropped out of school who should be
reengaged in education and be college and work ready;
(iii) Recommended funding for supporting career guidance and the
planning and implementation of K-12 dropout prevention, intervention,
and reengagement systems in school districts and a plan for phasing the
funding into the program of basic education, beginning in the 2011-2013
biennium; and
(iv) A plan for phasing in the expansion of the current school
improvement planning program to include state-funded, dropout-focused
school improvement technical assistance for school districts in
significant need of improvement regarding high school graduation
rates.
(4) State agencies in the ((building bridges)) GATE work group
shall work together, wherever feasible, on the following activities to
support ((school/family/community)) partnerships of schools, families,
and communities engaged in building K-12 dropout prevention,
intervention, and reengagement systems:
(a) Providing opportunities for coordination and flexibility of
program eligibility and funding criteria;
(b) Providing joint funding;
(c) Developing protocols and templates for model agreements on
sharing records and data;
(d) Providing joint professional development opportunities that
provide knowledge and training on:
(i) Research-based and promising practices;
(ii) The availability of programs and services for vulnerable
youth; and
(iii) Cultural competence.
(((5) The building bridges work group shall make recommendations to
the governor and the legislature by December 1, 2010, on a state-level
and regional infrastructure for coordinating services for vulnerable
youth. Recommendations must address the following issues:))
(a) Whether to adopt an official conceptual approach or framework
for all entities working with vulnerable youth that can support
coordinated planning and evaluation;
(b) The creation of a performance-based management system,
including outcomes, indicators, and performance measures relating to
vulnerable youth and programs serving them, including accountability
for the dropout issue;
(c) The development of regional and/or county-level multipartner
youth consortia with a specific charge to assist school districts and
local communities in building K-12 comprehensive dropout prevention,
intervention, and reengagement systems;
(d) The development of integrated or school-based one-stop shopping
for services that would:
(i) Provide individualized attention to the neediest youth and
prioritized access to services for students identified by a dropout
early warning and intervention data system;
(ii) Establish protocols for coordinating data and services,
including getting data release at time of intake and common assessment
and referral processes; and
(iii) Build a system of single case managers across agencies;
(e) Launching a statewide media campaign on increasing the high
school graduation rate; and
(f) Developing a statewide database of available services for
vulnerable youth.
Sec. 307 RCW 28A.175.145 and 2011 c 288 s 5 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1)(a) Subject to funds appropriated for this purpose or otherwise
available in the account established in RCW 28A.175.155, beginning in
the 2011-12 school year and each year thereafter, a high school that
demonstrates improvement in its dropout prevention score compared to
the baseline school year as calculated under RCW 28A.175.140 may
receive a PASS program award as provided under this section. The
legislature intends to recognize and reward continuous improvement by
using a baseline year for calculating eligibility for PASS program
awards so that a high school retains previously earned award funds from
one year to the next unless its performance declines.
(b) The office of the superintendent of public instruction must
determine the amount of PASS program awards based on appropriated funds
and eligible high schools. The intent of the legislature is to provide
an award to each eligible high school commensurate with the degree of
improvement in the high school's dropout prevention score and the size
of the high school. The office must establish a minimum award amount.
If funds available for PASS program awards are not sufficient to
provide an award to each eligible high school, the office of the
superintendent of public instruction shall establish objective criteria
to prioritize awards based on eligible high schools with the greatest
need for additional dropout prevention and intervention services. The
office of the superintendent of public instruction shall encourage and
may require a high school receiving a PASS program award to demonstrate
an amount of community matching funds or an amount of in-kind community
services to support dropout prevention and intervention.
(c) Ninety percent of an award under this section must be allocated
to the eligible high school to be used for dropout prevention
activities in the school as specified in subsection (2) of this
section. The principal of the high school shall determine the use of
funds after consultation with parents and certificated and classified
staff of the school.
(d) Ten percent of an award under this section must be allocated to
the school district in which the eligible high school is located to be
used for dropout prevention activities as specified in subsection (2)
of this section in the high school or in other schools in the district.
(e) The office of the superintendent of public instruction may
withhold distribution of award funds under this section to an otherwise
eligible high school or school district if the superintendent of public
instruction issues a finding that the school or school district has
willfully manipulated the dropout prevention indicators under RCW
28A.175.140, for example by expelling, suspending, transferring, or
refusing to enroll students at risk of dropping out of school or at
risk of low achievement.
(2) High schools and school districts may use PASS program award
funds for any programs or activities that support the development of a
dropout prevention, intervention, and reengagement system as described
in RCW 28A.175.074, offered directly by the school or school district
or under contract with education agencies or community-based
organizations, including but not limited to educational service
districts, workforce development councils, and boys and girls clubs.
Such programs or activities may include but are not limited to the
following:
(a) Strategies to close the achievement gap for disadvantaged
students and minority students;
(b) Use of graduation coaches as defined in RCW ((28A.175.150))
28A.175.074;
(c) Opportunity internship activities under RCW 28C.18.164;
(d) Dropout reengagement programs provided by community-based
organizations or community and technical colleges;
(e) Comprehensive guidance and planning programs as defined under
RCW 28A.600.045, including but not limited to the navigation 101
program;
(f) Reduced class sizes, extended school day, extended school year,
and tutoring programs for students identified as at risk of dropping
out of school, including instruction to assist these students in
meeting graduation requirements in mathematics and science;
(g) Outreach and counseling targeted to students identified as at
risk of dropping out of school, or who have dropped out of school, to
encourage them to consider learning alternatives such as
preapprenticeship programs, skill centers, running start, technical
high schools, and other options for completing a high school diploma;
(h) Preapprenticeship programs or running start for the trades
initiatives under RCW 49.04.190;
(i) Mentoring programs for students;
(j) Development and use of dropout early warning data systems;
(k) Counseling, resource and referral services, and intervention
programs to address social, behavioral, and health factors associated
with dropping out of school;
(l) Implementing programs for in-school suspension or other
strategies to avoid excluding middle and high school students from the
school whenever possible;
(m) Parent engagement activities such as home visits and off-campus
parent support group meetings related to dropout prevention and
reengagement; and
(n) Early learning programs for prekindergarten students.
(3) High schools and school districts are encouraged to implement
dropout prevention and reengagement strategies in a comprehensive and
systematic manner, using strategic planning, school improvement plans,
evaluation and feedback, and response to intervention tools.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 308 A new section is added to chapter 28A.175
RCW to read as follows:
(1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall
develop and make available a dropout prevention, intervention, and
reengagement system assessment tool to support school, family, and
community partnerships in designing and implementing a local system.
The assessment tool must have the capacity to identify school and
community strengths and gaps in services, and evaluate the
effectiveness of existing strategies to prevent and reengage dropouts.
Existing community needs assessments, such as the community health
improvement plan or other plans, may also be used to provide data for
identifying strengths and gaps related to the dropout prevention,
intervention, and reengagement system.
(2) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, in
consultation with the GATE work group, shall continue development of a
comprehensive and customizable dropout early warning and intervention
system for use by school districts and school, family, and community
partnerships.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 309 A new section is added to chapter 28A.175
RCW to read as follows:
(1) Subject to funds appropriated specifically for this purpose,
the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall establish
a program to provide graduation coaches to high schools that are
struggling to improve their high school graduation rates and school
success coaches to selected elementary and middle schools whose
students enroll in these high schools.
(2) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall
rank order all public high schools in the state based on a combination
of factors, including but not limited to graduation rates, dropout
rates, attendance, suspension and expulsion rates, results from dropout
early warning and intervention system data, and evidence that the high
school and the elementary and middle schools whose students enroll in
the high school are ready to support and benefit from graduation
coaches and school success coaches. The office shall place a
significant priority on graduation rates as a ranking factor.
(3) Each year the office of the superintendent of public
instruction shall allocate funds to support one graduation coach per
five hundred students enrolled in grades nine through twelve in a high
school and one school success coach per five hundred students enrolled
in grades kindergarten through eight in selected elementary and middle
schools whose students enroll in the high school. Funds shall be
allocated starting with the lowest-ranking schools until all available
funds have been allocated. The office must fully fund the allocation
of coaches in an eligible high school and the selected elementary and
middle schools before allocating funds for the next group of schools on
the ranked order list. The allocation amount per coach shall be based
on the school district's allocation for salaries as calculated under
RCW 28A.150.410 for certificated instructional staff, plus fringe
benefits as established in the omnibus appropriations act.
(4) A school district receiving funds under this section must use
the funds to assign individuals to the schools that generated the funds
to conduct the activities of a graduation coach or a school success
coach as defined under RCW 28A.175.074. Schools may use the funds to
assign employees to serve as coaches or may create partnerships and
contracts with community-based organizations to assign individuals from
the community to serve as coaches. The recipient schools must also use
the dropout prevention, intervention, and reengagement system
assessment tool developed under section 308 of this act to design
additional dropout prevention and intervention strategies for those
schools.
(5) To the extent funds are available, recipient schools are
eligible to receive funds under this section for three consecutive
years or until the schools no longer qualify for the allocation based
on their ranking, whichever is longer.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 310 A new section is added to chapter 28A.175
RCW to read as follows:
In fulfillment of their mission under RCW 28A.310.340 to assist in
providing pupils with equal educational opportunities, each educational
service district must, as a basic core service:
(1) Coordinate and convene school, family, and community
partnerships to develop and implement comprehensive K-12 dropout
prevention, intervention, and reengagement systems as defined under RCW
28A.175.074;
(2) Facilitate and assist local partnerships in using dropout
prevention, intervention, and reengagement system assessment tools; and
(3) Develop dropout reengagement programs to be offered under
contract with school districts as provided under RCW 28A.175.100
through 28A.175.110.
Sec. 311 RCW 28A.310.350 and 2007 c 402 s 8 are each amended to
read as follows:
The basic core services and cost upon which educational service
districts are budgeted shall include, but not be limited to, the
following:
(1) Educational service district administration and facilities such
as office space, maintenance and utilities;
(2) Cooperative administrative services such as assistance in
carrying out procedures to abolish sex and race bias in school
programs, fiscal services, grants management services, special
education services and transportation services;
(3) Personnel services such as certification/registration services;
(4) Learning resource services such as audio visual aids;
(5) Cooperative curriculum services such as health promotion and
health education services, in-service training, workshops and
assessment;
(6) Professional development services identified by statute or the
omnibus appropriations act; ((and))
(7) Special needs of local education agencies; and
(8) Dropout prevention, intervention, and reengagement services
under section 310 of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 312 A new section is added to chapter 28A.310
RCW to read as follows:
Subject to funds appropriated specifically for this purpose, a
corps of intervention specialists shall be located at educational
service districts, as determined by the office of the superintendent of
public instruction, to assist schools and school districts in
developing responses to intervention models; positive behavioral
interventions and support systems; compassionate schools models;
strategies to improve school climate and prevent harassment,
intimidation, and bullying; and other research-based approaches to
providing early intervention and support for students.
Sec. 313 RCW 28A.230.125 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 130 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) The superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with
the four-year institutions as defined in RCW 28B.76.020, the state
board for community and technical colleges, and the workforce training
and education coordinating board, shall develop for use by all public
school districts and educational service districts under section 314 of
this act a standardized high school transcript. The superintendent
shall establish clear definitions for the terms "credits" and "hours"
so that school programs operating on the quarter, semester, or
trimester system can be compared.
(2) The standardized high school transcript shall include a
notation of whether the student has earned a certificate of individual
achievement or a certificate of academic achievement.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 314 A new section is added to chapter 28A.310
RCW to read as follows:
An educational service district that offers a dropout reengagement
program under contract with one or more school districts as provided
under RCW 28A.175.100 through 28A.175.110 may award high school credit
to students who successfully complete courses eligible for credit under
the program, based on the standards for award of credit adopted by the
state board of education, to be recorded using the standardized high
school transcript under RCW 28A.230.125.
Sec. 315 RCW 28A.230.090 and 2011 c 203 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The state board of education shall establish high school
graduation requirements or equivalencies for students, except as
provided in RCW 28A.230.122 and except those equivalencies established
by local high schools or school districts under RCW 28A.230.097. The
purpose of a high school diploma is to declare that a student is ready
for success in postsecondary education, gainful employment, and
citizenship, and is equipped with the skills to be a lifelong learner.
(a) Any course in Washington state history and government used to
fulfill high school graduation requirements shall consider including
information on the culture, history, and government of the American
Indian peoples who were the first inhabitants of the state.
(b) The certificate of academic achievement requirements under RCW
28A.655.061 or the certificate of individual achievement requirements
under RCW 28A.155.045 are required for graduation from a public high
school but are not the only requirements for graduation.
(c) Any decision on whether a student has met the state board's
high school graduation requirements for a high school and beyond plan
shall remain at the local level. However, school districts must use
the standard template for the high school and beyond plan developed
under section 319 of this act or a locally developed template that the
school district has determined to have equivalent characteristics,
components, and activities as the standard template.
(d) Beginning with the graduating class of 2017, each student must
complete community service, to be explained and documented using the
student's culminating project. Parameters and requirements for the
community service may be established only by a school district board of
directors. A student who has completed the community service
requirement of a school district and transfers in the senior year to
another school district is not required to complete additional
community service under this section.
(2)(a) In recognition of the statutory authority of the state board
of education to establish and enforce minimum high school graduation
requirements, the state board shall periodically reevaluate the
graduation requirements and shall report such findings to the
legislature in a timely manner as determined by the state board.
(b) The state board shall reevaluate the graduation requirements
for students enrolled in vocationally intensive and rigorous career and
technical education programs, particularly those programs that lead to
a certificate or credential that is state or nationally recognized.
The purpose of the evaluation is to ensure that students enrolled in
these programs have sufficient opportunity to earn a certificate of
academic achievement, complete the program and earn the program's
certificate or credential, and complete other state and local
graduation requirements.
(c) The state board shall forward any proposed changes to the high
school graduation requirements to the education committees of the
legislature for review and to the quality education council established
under RCW 28A.290.010. The legislature shall have the opportunity to
act during a regular legislative session before the changes are adopted
through administrative rule by the state board. Changes that have a
fiscal impact on school districts, as identified by a fiscal analysis
prepared by the office of the superintendent of public instruction,
shall take effect only if formally authorized and funded by the
legislature through the omnibus appropriations act or other enacted
legislation.
(3) Pursuant to any requirement for instruction in languages other
than English established by the state board of education or a local
school district, or both, for purposes of high school graduation,
students who receive instruction in American sign language or one or
more American Indian languages shall be considered to have satisfied
the state or local school district graduation requirement for
instruction in one or more languages other than English.
(4) If requested by the student and his or her family, a student
who has completed high school courses before attending high school
shall be given high school credit which shall be applied to fulfilling
high school graduation requirements if:
(a) The course was taken with high school students, if the academic
level of the course exceeds the requirements for seventh and eighth
grade classes, and the student has successfully passed by completing
the same course requirements and examinations as the high school
students enrolled in the class; or
(b) The academic level of the course exceeds the requirements for
seventh and eighth grade classes and the course would qualify for high
school credit, because the course is similar or equivalent to a course
offered at a high school in the district as determined by the school
district board of directors.
(5) Students who have taken and successfully completed high school
courses under the circumstances in subsection (4) of this section shall
not be required to take an additional competency examination or perform
any other additional assignment to receive credit.
(6) At the college or university level, five quarter or three
semester hours equals one high school credit.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 316 A new section is added to chapter 28A.230
RCW to read as follows:
(1) To take effect beginning with the graduating class of 2017, the
state board of education must:
(a) Redesignate the credit in occupational education required for
high school graduation as a credit in career and technical education,
with courses approved under RCW 28A.700.010; and
(b) Adopt rules that permit a student whose high school and beyond
plan includes enrollment in a preparatory career and technical
education program of study leading to an industry-recognized
certificate or credential to elect to pursue a course in an alternative
subject area in lieu of one or both of the following required credits,
because the student and parent have determined that such a course will
better serve the student's education and career goals:
(i) The career and technical education credit; and
(ii) The fourth credit of English.
(2) If, after the effective date of this section, the state board
of education increases the number of course credits in science that are
required for high school graduation under RCW 28A.230.090, the board
must permit a student whose high school and beyond plan includes
enrollment in a preparatory career and technical education program of
study leading to an industry-recognized certificate or credential to
elect to pursue a course in an alternative subject area in lieu of a
third credit in science, because the student and parent have determined
that such a course will better serve the student's education and career
goals.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 317 A new section is added to chapter 28A.300
RCW to read as follows:
(1) An automated external defibrillator is often a critical
component in the chain of survival for a cardiac arrest victim.
(2) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, in
consultation with school districts and stakeholder groups, shall
develop guidance for a medical emergency response and automated
external defibrillator program for high schools.
(3) The medical emergency response and automated external
defibrillator program must comply with current evidence-based guidance
from the American heart association or other national science
organization.
(4) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, in
consultation with the department of health, shall assist districts in
carrying out a program under this section, including providing
guidelines and advice for seeking grants for the purchase of automated
external defibrillators or seeking donations of automated external
defibrillators. The superintendent may coordinate with local health
districts or other organizations in seeking grants and donations for
this purpose.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 318 A new section is added to chapter 28A.230
RCW to read as follows:
(1) Each school district that operates a high school must offer
instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation to students as provided in
this section. Beginning with the 2013-14 school year, instruction in
cardiopulmonary resuscitation must be included in at least one health
class necessary for graduation.
(2) Instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation under this section
must:
(a) Be an instructional program developed by the American heart
association or the American red cross or be nationally recognized and
based on the most current national evidence-based emergency
cardiovascular care guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation;
(b) Include appropriate use of an automated external defibrillator;
and
(c) Incorporate hands-on practice in addition to cognitive
learning.
(3) School districts may offer the instruction in cardiopulmonary
resuscitation directly or arrange for the instruction to be provided by
available community-based providers. The instruction is not required
to be provided by a certificated teacher. Certificated teachers
providing the instruction are not required to be certified trainers of
cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A student is not required to earn
certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation to successfully complete
the instruction for the purposes of this section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 319 A new section is added to chapter 28A.230
RCW to read as follows:
(1) The purpose of the high school and beyond plan required for
graduation is to connect student learning in high school with readiness
for postsecondary education, gainful employment, and citizenship. The
office of the superintendent of public instruction shall develop a
standard template for the high school and beyond plan to facilitate use
of the plan as a tool to help students, beginning in the eighth grade,
develop a program of study for their high school education based on
their interests and goals, update the plan annually, and use the plan
to guide their selection of courses, culminating project, and other
activities. The office must also develop materials to support school
districts in working with students to develop programs of study.
(2) The standard template must describe the following components
and activities to be included in a high school and beyond plan:
(a) Identification of personal interests and achievable career
goals;
(b) A plan for course-taking, to be annually reviewed and updated;
(c) Research on postsecondary education and entry-level jobs
related to the student's career interests, including the multiple
pathways to education and careers in any given field, the costs of
postsecondary education, and the projected wages of various career
options;
(d) Development of a budget based on personal and career interests
and goals, including a budget for postsecondary education;
(e) Completion of a resume and, if applicable, an application for
postsecondary education; and
(f) Participation in an on-site or virtual visit to a postsecondary
institution or a workplace.
(3) Beginning in the 2014-15 school year and beginning with
students in the eighth grade, school districts must use the standard
template for the high school and beyond plan developed under this
section or a locally developed template that the district has
determined to have equivalent characteristics, components, and
activities as the standard template. The forms of documentation
required for the components and activities of a high school and beyond
plan shall be established by the local school district.
(4) For the purposes of this section, "program of study" means a
coordinated, nonduplicative progression of courses within a career
pathway that aligns academic and career and technical education in
secondary education with postsecondary education to prepare students
for an occupation or group of occupations within a career cluster.
Each program of study follows a pathway offering multiple career
opportunities based on differing levels of education. A program of
study offers academic content and career and technical content aligned
with appropriate learning standards, includes opportunities for
students to earn dual high school and college credit, provides
opportunities for work-integrated learning, prepares students to enter
postsecondary education and employment, and culminates in an industry-recognized credential, certificate, or degree whenever possible.
Sec. 320 RCW 28A.230.097 and 2008 c 170 s 202 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) Each high school or school district board of directors shall
adopt course equivalencies for career and technical high school courses
offered to students in high schools and skill centers. A career and
technical course equivalency may be for whole or partial credit. Each
school district board of directors shall develop a course equivalency
approval procedure.
(2) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall
adopt rules establishing a list of mandatory course equivalencies for
career and technical education courses. Beginning with the 2014-15
school year, a school district board of directors must, at a minimum,
grant academic course equivalency for a career and technical high
school course from the mandatory course equivalency list adopted under
RCW 28A.700.070, but is not limited to the courses on the list.
(3) Career and technical courses determined to be equivalent to
academic core courses, in full or in part, by the high school or school
district shall be accepted as meeting core requirements, including
graduation requirements, if the courses are recorded on the student's
transcript using the equivalent academic high school department
designation and title. Full or partial credit shall be recorded as
appropriate. The high school or school district shall also issue and
keep record of course completion certificates that demonstrate that the
career and technical courses were successfully completed as needed for
industry certification, college credit, or preapprenticeship, as
applicable. The certificate shall be either part of the student's high
school and beyond plan or the student's culminating project, as
determined by the student. The office of the superintendent of public
instruction shall develop and make available electronic samples of
certificates of course completion.
Sec. 321 RCW 28A.600.045 and 2008 c 170 s 303 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) Beginning with the 2014-15 school year, each high school must
implement a career planning and exploration program of at least twenty
instructional hours per year for all students in grades nine through
twelve. The legislature encourages each middle school((,)) and junior
high school((, and high school)) also to implement a ((comprehensive
guidance and planning)) career planning and exploration program for all
students. The purpose of the program is to support students as they
navigate their education and plan their future; encourage an ongoing
and personal relationship between each student and an adult in the
school; and involve parents in students' educational decisions and
plans. It is also a purpose of the program to help students and
parents understand that there are multiple pathways and multiple
opportunities for students to chart their education and their future.
(2) A ((comprehensive guidance and planning)) career planning and
exploration program is a program that contains at least the following
components:
(a) A curriculum intended to provide the skills and knowledge
students need to select courses, explore options, plan for their
future, and take steps to implement their plans. The curriculum may
include such topics as analysis of students' test results; diagnostic
assessments of students' academic strengths and weaknesses; use of
assessment results in developing students' short-term and long-term
plans; assessments of student interests and aptitude; goal-setting
skills; planning for high school course selection; independent living
skills; exploration of options and opportunities for career and
technical education at the secondary and postsecondary level;
exploration of career opportunities in emerging and high-demand
programs including apprenticeships; and postsecondary options and how
to access them. Districts are encouraged to use available online
curricula for this purpose;
(b) Opportunities for regular meetings between ((each)) students
and a teacher, counselor, or other instructional staff member who
serves as an advisor throughout the ((student's)) students' enrollment
at the school. Nothing in this section prescribes a particular
frequency, duration, or teacher-to-student ratio for such meetings;
(c) Student-led conferences with the student's parents, guardians,
or family members and the student's advisor for the purpose of
demonstrating the student's accomplishments; identifying weaknesses;
planning and selecting courses; and setting long-term goals; ((and))
(d) Data collection that allows schools to monitor students'
progress; and
(e) Opportunities for students to participate in career
exploration, work-based learning, job shadowing, internships,
development of their high school and beyond plan, or other similar
activities intended to engage students in preparing for their future.
(3) Subject to funds appropriated for this purpose, the office of
the superintendent of public instruction shall provide support for
((comprehensive guidance and planning)) career planning and exploration
programs in public schools, including providing ongoing development and
improvement of the curriculum described in subsection (2) of this
section.
(4) Beginning in the 2015-16 school year, each middle school,
junior high school, and high school must provide information to
students and parents or guardians regarding the online career guidance
and exploration tools identified under section 326 of this act.
Schools are encouraged to offer training and orientation to students
and parents or guardians about using the online tools to identify a
program of study and consider multiple pathways for education and
careers.
Sec. 322 RCW 28A.700.030 and 2008 c 170 s 103 are each amended to
read as follows:
All approved preparatory secondary career and technical education
programs must meet the following minimum criteria:
(1) Either:
(a) Lead to a certificate or credential that is state or nationally
recognized by trades, industries, or other professional associations as
necessary for employment or advancement in that field; or
(b) Allow students to earn dual credit for high school and college
through tech prep, advanced placement, or other agreements or programs;
(2) Be comprised of a sequenced progression of multiple courses
that are technically intensive and rigorous; ((and))
(3) Include at least one work-integrated learning opportunity,
which may be work-based learning, an internship, a job shadow, or other
worksite experience; and
(4) Lead to workforce entry, state or nationally approved
apprenticeships, or postsecondary education in a related field.
Sec. 323 RCW 28A.700.040 and 2008 c 170 s 104 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall
establish performance measures and targets and monitor the performance
of career and technical education programs in at least the following
areas:
(a) Student participation in and completion of high-demand programs
as identified under RCW 28A.700.020;
(b) Students earning dual credit for high school and college; and
(c) Performance measures and targets established by the workforce
training and education coordinating board, including but not limited to
student academic and technical skill attainment, graduation rates,
postgraduation employment or enrollment in postsecondary education, and
other measures and targets as required by the federal Carl Perkins act,
as amended.
(2) If a school district fails to meet the performance targets
established under this section, the office of the superintendent of
public instruction may require the district to submit an improvement
plan. If a district fails to implement an improvement plan or
continues to fail to meet the performance targets for three consecutive
years, the office of the superintendent of public instruction may use
this failure as the basis to deny the approval or reapproval of one or
more of the district's career and technical education programs.
(3) The office of the superintendent of public instruction must
establish criteria and an award or designation to recognize exemplary
career and technical education programs.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 324 A new section is added to chapter 43.41
RCW to read as follows:
(1) The education data center must develop a standard report using
individual student data, to be prepared and disseminated annually, on
the postsecondary education and employment outcomes for students who
graduate from Washington public high schools. The report must examine
outcomes one year after high school graduation and five years after
high school graduation.
(2) In developing the report, the education data center must
consult with the office of the superintendent of public instruction,
the state board for community and technical colleges, the student
achievement council, the public and private four-year institutions of
higher education, the workforce training and education coordinating
board, and the employment security department.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 325 A new section is added to chapter 28A.410
RCW to read as follows:
(1) The professional educator standards board shall review
certification standards for secondary principals to assure that
fundamentals of career and technical education and career and technical
education leadership are adequately reflected in the standards.
(2) The professional educator standards board, in collaboration
with approved career and technical education certification programs,
shall revise the standards for career and technical education
certification on the basis of business and industry work experience.
The objective of the revisions is to significantly increase the extent
that program requirements are based on demonstrated competencies rather
than course completion.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 326 A new section is added to chapter 28C.18
RCW to read as follows:
(1) By December 1, 2014, the board, in collaboration with the other
state education and workforce agencies, shall identify a sample of
existing, interactive online tools that students and parents or
guardians may use to explore career opportunities, identify a program
of study as defined under section 319 of this act, and assist in career
guidance. The board shall publicize these online tools on the board's
web site. The board may modify or supplement the online tools to make
them more helpful for users or to provide additional information
specific to the Washington state education system and economy.
(2) The board must annually create a brief, summary list of
promising careers based on analysis of employment openings and future
growth, as well as wages. The list must include careers that require
various levels of postsecondary education and must illustrate the
multiple pathways students may take to pursue the careers. The purpose
of the list is to illustrate a sample of high quality, high-demand
careers available through multiple pathways and encourage students and
parents or guardians to engage in career exploration. The list must be
publicized along with the online tools identified under subsection (1)
of this section and may be linked to other, more comprehensive analyses
and information regarding high-demand careers and career projections.
(3) Beginning July 1, 2015, the board, in consultation with the
state education and workforce agencies, must offer trainings regarding
the online tools in subsection (1) of this section to career and
technical education instructors, school counselors, and other education
or workforce-related personnel.
(4) The state education and workforce agencies and all community
and technical colleges must publicize the online tools and promising
careers identified under subsections (1) and (2) of this section on
their respective web sites. Worksource centers and libraries as
defined in RCW 27.12.010 must include information about the online
tools in existing publications, including newsletters, posters,
brochures, or other print materials, and must provide directions and
options for public internet access to the online tools.
(5) For the purposes of this section, "state education and
workforce agencies" means the office of the superintendent of public
instruction, the state board of education, the state board for
community and technical colleges, the student achievement council, the
workforce training and education coordinating board, and the employment
security department.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 327 (1) The legislature finds that for too
long, there has been a perception that career readiness and college
readiness represent two separate and unequal tracks. The importance of
providing high quality opportunities for applied learning,
work-integrated learning, cross-disciplinary curriculum, career
exploration and planning, and career and technical equivalence often
appears subsumed by an emphasis on theoretical academics. The
legislature intends to create a vision for the integration of career
education alongside academic education.
(2)(a) A legislative task force on career and college ready
education opportunities is established, with members as provided in
this subsection:
(i) The chair, vice chair, and ranking minority member of the
education and higher education committees of the house of
representatives;
(ii) The chair, vice chair, and ranking minority member of the
early learning and K-12 education and higher education committees of
the senate;
(iii) The superintendent of public instruction or a designee; and
(iv) One representative each from the workforce training and
education coordinating board, the student achievement council, and the
Washington association of career and technical education.
(b) The task force shall be cochaired by either the chair or vice
chair of each of the legislative committees.
(3) The purpose of the task force is to identify strategies for how
education that supports career and college readiness, including but not
limited to career and technical education, may be better integrated
into secondary education opportunities for all students. The
strategies to be considered by the task force include state laws and
policies, graduation requirements, college and university admissions
policies and practices, and state funding for instructional programs
and capital facilities. The task force must examine the barriers,
incentives and disincentives, costs, and cost-effectiveness of current
policies and practices.
(4) A preliminary report from the task force is due December 15,
2013, to include at least the following:
(a) An analysis of the career and college ready graduation
requirements proposed by the state board of education and any
recommendations regarding graduation requirements;
(b) Options for expanding career education and career exploration
and planning into middle school;
(c) Options for increasing student and parent awareness of the
multiple education and career pathways available for students;
(d) Strategies for enhancing and supporting work-integrated
learning opportunities for students; and
(e) Initial examination of key strategies for improving transitions
from high school to college.
(5) A final report from the task force is due September 1, 2014, to
include recommendations for specific policies that both support and
provide appropriate state oversight for career and college ready
education opportunities including through middle and high school-based
secondary career and technical education, skill centers, and career
exploration and planning programs.
(6) Staff support for the task force must be provided by senate
committee services and the house of representatives office of program
research, with assistance from the office of the superintendent of
public instruction, the student achievement council, and the workforce
training and education coordinating board as necessary.
(7) Legislative members of the task force may be reimbursed for
travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. The expenses of the
task force must be paid jointly by the senate and the house of
representatives. Task force expenditures are subject to approval by
the senate facilities and operations committee and the house of
representatives executive rules committee.
(8) This section expires June 30, 2015.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 401 The following acts or parts of acts are
each repealed:
(1) RCW 28A.165.025 (School district program plan) and 2009 c 556
s 1 & 2004 c 20 s 3;
(2) RCW 28A.165.045 (Plan approval process) and 2009 c 556 s 2 &
2004 c 20 s 5;
(3) RCW 28A.175.150 (PASS program -- Graduation coach) and 2011 c 288
s 6;
(4) RCW 28A.415.250 (Teacher assistance program -- Provision for
mentor teachers) and 2009 c 539 s 5, 1993 c 336 s 401, 1991 c 116 s 19,
1990 c 33 s 403, 1987 c 507 s 1, & 1985 c 399 s 1; and
(5) RCW 28A.415.260 (Pilot program using full-time mentor teachers)
and 1998 c 245 s 12 & 1993 c 336 s 402.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 402 Section 101 of this act takes effect
September 1, 2013."
Correct the title.
EFFECT: Replaces all provisions of the underlying bill with the
following:
Prototypical School Formula: Adds allocation of .50 FTE for Family
Engagement Coordinators in elementary schools and increases allocation
by .50 FTE for counselors in middle and high schools. Increases
Transitional Bilingual allocation to 6.0 hours per week for middle
school and 8.0 hours per week for high school, and adds 3.0 hours per
week for students who have exited the program in the previous two
years. Increases the Learning Assistance Program allocation to 2.0
hours per week. Allocates funds for students in approved dropout
reengagement programs at 1.22 FTE.
Learning Assistance Program: Requires districts to use programs
from a research-based list developed by OSPI in consultation with WSIPP
and other research organizations. Allows use of a different program
subject to annual OSPI approval, based on demonstrated increased
achievement. Replaces requirements to submit LAP plans with
requirements to submit annual reports based on student progress and
program evaluation. Allows LAP to be used for science and to support
9th through 12th grade students not on track for graduation.
Transitional Bilingual Instruction Program: Requires school
districts to make a program of instructional support available for
students who exited within the previous two years but need additional
academic assistance, within the Program of Basic Education. Requires
beginning in 2017, that TBIP teachers be endorsed in Bilingual
Education or ELL. Requires development of an accountability system for
TBIP. Directs OSPI to provide technical assistance. Requires student
performance data from TBIP to be reported through the state report
card.
Special Education: Directs OSPI to develop interagency agreements
regarding provision of transition services for students with
disabilities aged 16 and above, as well as annual monitoring and
reporting of posthigh school outcomes. Requires PESB to examine
certification requirements for special education teachers, counselors,
and psychologists to assure they receive training in transition needs.
Specifies parental notice and reporting requirements for students with
disabilities or students with Section 504 plans regarding incidents of
restraint or isolation.
Student Discipline: Directs collection of data using standard
definitions of disciplinary actions. Prohibits districts from
suspending educational services as a disciplinary measure or imposing
a disciplinary action that results in suspension of educational
services. Prohibits indefinite suspensions or expulsions and requires
conversion of emergency expulsions to another corrective action within
10 days. Requires corrective actions to end with the academic term,
but allows the district to petition OSPI for an extension. Requires
ERDC to prepare a report on outcomes of youth in the juvenile justice
system.
Other Instruction-Related Items: Allows school districts to use up
to 5 school days for WAKIDs. Requires fairness and bias reviews to be
conducted before any changes to state learning standards. Requires
collection of disaggregated student data, including based on subethnic
and subracial categories, according to a specified phase-in beginning
in 2014-15.
Educator Recruitment and Preparation: Requires PESB and OSPI to
update the Careers in Education high school course curriculum. Allows
Recruiting Washington Teachers (RWT) programs to be considered
Opportunity Internship Programs, making students eligible for State
Need Grants. Allows RWT graduates to qualify for conditional teacher
scholarships. Extends a Retooling Scholarship to teachers seeking
special education, bilingual, or ELL endorsements. Directs PESB to
design paraeducator professional development and recommend minimum
qualifications, and design an articulated pathway for teacher
preparation and certification that has specified characteristics.
Requires paraeducator certificate programs to provide transferrable
course credits.
Professional Development: Directs OSPI to adopt a definition of
professional learning and recommend how it may be used to guide policy
and investments in professional development. Establishes an Educator
Support Program with specified components, to provide mentoring for
beginning and probationary teachers. Requires professional development
on revised evaluation systems to include foundational elements of
cultural competence. Directs OSPI and others to develop a content
outline for cultural competence training for all school staff.
Requires the cultural competence training in schools required to
implement improvement plans or schools with significant recent
increases in ELL enrollment.
Dropout Prevention and Reengagement: Modifies and clarifies
descriptions and definitions of a comprehensive K-12 dropout
prevention, intervention, and reengagement system, including aligning
the purpose of the Building Bridges grant program and a state
Graduation: A Team Effort (GATE) work group. Directs OSPI to develop
a dropout system assessment tool and continue development of a dropout
prevention early warning and intervention system. Creates a grant
program to allocate funds for graduation coaches for the most
struggling high schools and school success coaches for associated
elementary and middle schools. Adds dropout prevention, intervention,
and reengagement to the basic core services to be provided by ESDs.
Authorizes ESDs to grant course credit for students enrolled in
approved dropout reengagement programs.
High School and Beyond: Requires students to complete community
service for graduation, with parameters and requirements set by local
school boards. Requires the SBE to permit students whose high school
and beyond plan (HSBP) includes enrollment in a preparatory CTE program
leading to industry certification to choose alternatives to certain
courses required for graduation. Requires OSPI to develop guidelines
for medical emergency response and AED use in high schools. Requires
high schools to offer instruction in CPR to be included in one health
class for graduation. Directs OSPI to develop a template for the HSBP
with certain elements, which districts must use to help students design
a Program of Study. Directs OSPI to adopt a list of academic course
equivalencies for CTE courses, which must be recognized by school
districts. Requires all high schools to provide a career planning and
exploration program with specified components and for at least 20
instructional hours per year. Requires ERDC to publish a standard
report on education and workforce outcomes within 1 and 5 years after
graduation. Directs the Workforce Board to identify and publicize
online career exploration tools. Establishes a Legislative Task Force
to identify strategies for how education that supports career readiness
can be better integrated into secondary education for all students.
Requires a preliminary report in 2013 and a final report in 2014.