High school technology skills assessment
A bill requested by State Superintendent Randy Dorn that would ensure students graduate with technology skills is making its way through the Legislature.
House Bill 1492 was heard on Feb. 2 at a public hearing by the House Education Committee. The bill requires students to show their proficiency by passing a technology literacy and fluency test, to be developed by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, or completing a culminating project “or other substantively equivalent methods.”
“Technology literacy is one of our state’s four learning goals,” Dorn said. “We have to make sure that we educate all of our students in that area. That means that the state should fund technology literacy. Students shouldn’t have to rely on a district passing a technology levy to get the education they deserve.”
Accompanying the bill is Dorn’s budget request for $139 million in 2015-17. The money will increase student allocations for technology and fund staff support to update technology learning standards so that they align with existing state standards.
Graduation testing requirements
The Legislature heard three bills on Feb. 3 that attempt to clarify Washington state’s complicated graduation assessment requirements and ensure the money and time spent on testing is effective.
House Bills 1363, 1703, and 1785 address Washington’s testing issue in different ways. State Superintendent Randy Dorn requested HB 1785, which eliminates the requirement for students to pass exit exams to be eligible to graduate from high school. Instead, 11th graders who do not meet standard on the new Smarter Balanced tests must take and pass courses in their senior year that align with their college or career goals, including high school transition courses.
This shift would allow students to spend time acquiring the skills they need for success after high school rather than retesting, and would save the state approximately $14.6 million annually.
“It’s important that we keep the focus on rigor and that our assessment system does what it’s intended to do: identify areas where students need more help,” Dorn said.
In the 2013-14 school year, 24 states, including Washington, required high school students to pass exit exams to be eligible to graduate. Traditionally, Washington’s exit exams are administered to 10th graders, to allow students ample time to retest or access test alternatives if they do not pass the first time. HB 1785 would eliminate the need for retesting.
Litzow, Senn introduce ‘emotional learning’ bill
A bipartisan bill recommending statewide standards for social-emotional learning (SEL) was introduced to the Washington State Legislature on Jan. 28. The proposal is sponsored by Sen. Steve Litzow and Rep. Tana Senn, both of Mercer Island.
The bill defines SEL, establishes a work group to study and provide advice to schools about SEL, and develops SEL benchmarks for K-12 students.
“Educating students is an evolving science, and the evidence is clear that we must prepare the whole child as they move through school toward the work force,” said Sen. Litzow, chairman of the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee. “By addressing the social and emotional needs of students in addition to traditional classroom instruction, we can ensure they are better prepared to fully participate in democracy.”
“Unfortunately, too many students experience stresses like homelessness and bullying to depression and playground conflict,” said Rep. Senn. “In order for children to be ready to learn, they need to have not only academic skills, but also social and emotional ones. Solid mental health is a critical building block for life.”
The bill comes on the heels of a survey released this week by Civic Enterprises and Hart Research Associates, which shows K–12 teachers in Washington State overwhelmingly support SEL as part of their curricula.
