Washington Business Fall 2015 | Legislative Review | Page 17

issue area reports | education and workforce

ESSB 5748

teacher and
principal
evaluation
Failed/AWB Supported

Michael Senske of Pearson Packaging Systems, left, Natalie Pacholl of SEH America, AWB President
Kris Johnson and National Association of Manufacturers President Jay Timmons testify about the
importance of manufacturing and workforce development.

SHB 1813

expanding computer
science education
Passed/AWB Supported
With the increasing demand for computer
science professionals, AWB supported Substitute House Bill 1813, sponsored by Rep.
Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge Island, which
requires the Office of the Superintendent
of Public Instruction to adopt computer
science learning standards developed by
a nationally recognized computer science
education organization. It also requires
the state Professional Educator Standards
Board to develop standards for a K-12 computer science endorsement, and changes
the name of the “retooling to teach mathematics and science conditional scholarship
program” to the “educator retooling conditional scholarship program,” and modifies
the program. This legislation passed the
House 91-7 and the Senate concurred with
final passage by a vote of 43-0.

Bill considered as part of
AWB’s voting record

ESHB 1495/ESHB 5419

student user privacy
Passed/AWB Supported
School data is an important tool in
education reform. Engrossed Substitute
House Bill 1495, introduced by Rep.
Chris Reykdal, D-Tumwater, established
the Student User Privacy in Education
Rights Act, or SUPER Act, which requires
school service providers to: (1) Provide
information about the types of student
personal information they collect and how
they use and share the information; and
(2) Maintain a comprehensive information
security program designed to protect the
security, privacy, confidentiality, and
integrity of student personal information.
In an era of massive data breaches, it is
imperative that student data be secure
while at the same time be available to
ensure programs and policies that benefit
our students. ESHB 5419 passed the
Senate 49-0 and the House 96-2.

Favorable outcome for
Washington businesses

Introduced by Sens. Steve
Litzow, R-Mercer Island;
Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah;
Joe Fain R-Auburn; Bruce
Da m m ei er, R- P u yal l u p;
Andy Hill, R-Redmond;
Ann Rivers, R-La Center;
Randi Becker, R-Eatonville;
C ur ti s Ki n g, R-Yak i m a;
John Braun, R-Centralia; Judy Warnick,
R-Moses Lake; and Barbara Bailey, R-Oak
Harbor, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill
5748 sought to clarify the teacher and principal evaluation process with the intent of
strengthening the definition of evaluations.
The aim was to satisfy the federal No Child
Left Behind requirements and reinstate
funding Washington state lost in 2014.
Specifically, the bill addressed the evaluation process for: (1) Teachers who teach
reading or language arts or mathematics
in a grade in which the federally mandated
statewide student assessments are administered; and (2) Principals assigned to a
school in which reading or language arts
or mathematics are taught in at least one of
the grades in which the federally mandated
statewide assessments are administered.
It would have required the Office of the
Superintendent of Public Instruction to
provide to each school district the relevant

Missed Opportunities

special edition 2015

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