(1) The activities in this section revise and
strengthen the state learning standards that implement the goals
of RCW 28A.150.210, known as the essential academic learning
requirements, and improve alignment of school district curriculum
to the standards.
(2) The state board of education shall be assisted in its
work under subsections (3), (4), and (5) of this section by: (a)
An expert national consultant in each of mathematics and science
retained by the state board; and (b) the mathematics and science
advisory panels created under RCW 28A.305.219, as appropriate,
which shall provide review and formal comment on proposed
recommendations to the superintendent of public instruction and
the state board of education on new revised standards and
curricula.
(3) By September 30, 2007, the state board of education
shall recommend to the superintendent of public instruction
revised essential academic learning requirements and grade level
expectations in mathematics. The recommendations shall be based
on:
(a) Considerations of clarity, rigor, content, depth,
coherence from grade to grade, specificity, accessibility, and
measurability;
(b) Study of:
(i) Standards used in countries whose students demonstrate
high performance on the trends in international mathematics and
science study and the programme for international student
assessment;
(ii) College readiness standards;
(iii) The national council of teachers of mathematics focal
points and the national assessment of educational progress
content frameworks; and
(iv) Standards used by three to five other states, including
California, and the nation of Singapore; and
(c) Consideration of information presented during public
comment periods.
(4)(a) By February 29, 2008, the superintendent of public
instruction shall revise the essential academic learning
requirements and the grade level expectations for mathematics and
present the revised standards to the state board of education and
the education committees of the senate and the house of
representatives as required by RCW 28A.655.070(4).
(b) The state board of education shall direct an expert
national consultant in mathematics to:
(i) Analyze the February 2008 version of the revised
standards, including a comparison to exemplar standards
previously reviewed under this section;
(ii) Recommend specific language and content changes needed
to finalize the revised standards; and
(iii) Present findings and recommendations in a draft report
to the state board of education.
(c) By May 15, 2008, the state board of education shall
review the consultant's draft report, consult the mathematics
advisory panel, hold a public hearing to receive comment, and
direct any subsequent modifications to the consultant's report.
After the modifications are made, the state board of education
shall forward the final report and recommendations to the
superintendent of public instruction for implementation.
(d) By July 1, 2008, the superintendent of public
instruction shall revise the mathematics standards to conform
precisely to and incorporate each of the recommendations of the
state board of education under subsection (4)(c) of this section and submit the revisions to
the state board of education.
(e) By July 31, 2008, the state board of education shall
either approve adoption by the superintendent of public
instruction of the final revised standards as the essential
academic learning requirements and grade level expectations for
mathematics, or develop a plan for ensuring that the
recommendations under subsection (4)(c) of this section are implemented so that final
revised mathematics standards can be adopted by September 25,
2008.
(5) By June 30, 2008, the state board of education shall
recommend to the superintendent of public instruction revised
essential academic learning requirements and grade level
expectations in science. The recommendations shall be based on:
(a) Considerations of clarity, rigor, content, depth,
coherence from grade to grade, specificity, accessibility, and
measurability;
(b) Study of standards used by three to five other states
and in countries whose students demonstrate high performance on
the trends in international mathematics and science study and the
programme for international student assessment; and
(c) Consideration of information presented during public
comment periods.
(6) By December 1, 2008, the superintendent of public
instruction shall revise the essential academic learning
requirements and the grade level expectations for science and
present the revised standards to the state board of education and
the education committees of the senate and the house of
representatives as required by RCW 28A.655.070(4). The
superintendent shall adopt the revised essential academic
learning requirements and grade level expectations unless
otherwise directed by the legislature during the 2009 legislative
session.
(7)(a) Within six months after the standards under
subsection (4) of this section are adopted, the superintendent of
public instruction shall present to the state board of education
recommendations for no more than three basic mathematics
curricula each for elementary, middle, and high school grade
spans.
(b) Within two months after the presentation of the
recommended curricula, the state board of education shall provide
official comment and recommendations to the superintendent of
public instruction regarding the recommended mathematics
curricula. The superintendent of public instruction shall make
any changes based on the comment and recommendations from the
state board of education and adopt the recommended curricula.
(c) By May 15, 2009, the superintendent of public
instruction shall present to the state board of education
recommendations for no more than three basic science curricula
each for elementary, middle, and high school grade spans.
(d) By June 30, 2009, the state board of education shall
provide official comment and recommendations to the
superintendent of public instruction regarding the recommended
science curricula. The superintendent of public instruction
shall make any changes based on the comment and recommendations
from the state board of education and adopt the recommended
curricula.
(e) In selecting the recommended curricula under this
subsection (7), the superintendent of public instruction shall
provide information to the mathematics and science advisory
panels created under RCW 28A.305.219, as appropriate, and seek
the advice of the appropriate panel regarding the curricula that
shall be included in the recommendations.
(f) The recommended curricula under this subsection (7)
shall align with the revised essential academic learning
requirements and grade level expectations. In addition to the
recommended basic curricula, appropriate diagnostic and
supplemental materials shall be identified as necessary to
support each curricula.
(g) Subject to funds appropriated for this purpose and
availability of the curricula, at least one of the curricula in
each grade span and in each of mathematics and science shall be
available to schools and parents online at no cost to the school
or parent.
(8) By December 1, 2007, the state board of education shall
revise the high school graduation requirements under RCW 28A.230.090 to include a minimum of three credits of mathematics,
one of which may be a career and technical course equivalent in
mathematics, and prescribe the mathematics content in the three
required credits.
(9) Nothing in this section requires a school district to
use one of the recommended curricula under subsection (7) of this
section. However, the statewide accountability plan adopted by
the state board of education under RCW 28A.305.130 shall
recommend conditions under which school districts should be
required to use one of the recommended curricula. The plan shall
also describe the conditions for exception to the curriculum
requirement, such as the use of integrated academic and career
and technical education curriculum. Required use of the
recommended curricula as an intervention strategy must be
authorized by the legislature as required by RCW 28A.305.130(4)(e) before implementation.
(10) The superintendent of public instruction shall conduct
a comprehensive survey of the mathematics curricula being used by
school districts at all grade levels and the textbook and
curriculum purchasing cycle of the districts and report the
results of the survey to the education committees of the
legislature by November 15, 2008.
[2008 c 274 § 2; 2008 c 172 § 2; 2007 c 396 § 1.]
NOTES:
Reviser's note: This section was amended by 2008 c 172 § 2 and by 2008 c 274 § 2, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Intent -- 2008 c 172: "The legislature intends that the revised mathematics standards by the office of the superintendent of public instruction will set higher expectations for Washington's students by fortifying content and increasing rigor; provide greater clarity, specificity, and measurability about what is expected of students in each grade; supply more explicit guidance to educators about what to teach and when; enhance the relevance of mathematics to students' lives; and ultimately result in more Washington students having the opportunity to be successful in mathematics. Additionally, the revised mathematics standards should restructure the standards to make clear the importance of all aspects of mathematics: Mathematics content including the standard algorithms, conceptual understanding of the content, and the application of mathematical processes within the content." [2008 c 172 § 1.]
Effective date -- 2008 c 172: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [March 26, 2008]." [2008 c 172 § 3.]
Effective date -- 2007 c 396 §§ 1 and 2: "Sections 1 and 2 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and take effect immediately [May 9, 2007]." [2007 c 396 § 22.]
Captions not law -- 2007 c 396: "Captions used in this act are not any part of the law." [2007 c 396 § 19.]
Finding -- Intent -- 2007 c 396: See note following RCW 28A.300.515.