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• Introduced by Rep. Ruth Kagi, (Lake Forest Park) (D) on January 18, 2012, provides that, to the extent funds are available, administration of the Washington kindergarten inventory of developing skills to kindergarten students shall be phased in beginning in the 2012-13 school year as directed by the superintendent of public instruction in consultation with the department of early learning, until the 2014-15 school year and thereafter when the Washington kindergarten inventory of developing skills must be administered to all students enrolled in kindergarten programs. (Companion Bill:SB 6326).
  • Referred to the House Education Committee on January 18, 2012.
  • Referred to the House Ways & Means Committee on January 31, 2012.
    • Substitute offered in the House on February 6, 2012, changes the implementation schedule for administration of the Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills.
  • Referred to the House Rules Committee on February 8, 2012.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Ruth Kagi, (Lake Forest Park) (D) on February 11, 2012, provides that time spent by certificated staff meeting with students and families or otherwise administering the WAKids may be considered instructional hours, and that up to five such school days may be considered school days, for purposes of basic education. This amendment further provides that, to the extent funds are available, implementation grants shall be offered on a schedule determined by the OSPI and the DEL. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on February 11, 2012.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Ruth Kagi, (Lake Forest Park) (D) on February 11, 2012, provides that time spent by certificated staff meeting with students and families or otherwise administering the WAKids may be considered instructional hours, and that up to three such school days may be considered school days, for purposes of basic education. Provides that, to the extent funds are available, implementation grants shall be offered on a schedule determined by the OSPI and the DEL. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on February 11, 2012.
• Passed 84 to 11 in the House on February 11, 2012, changes the implementation schedule for administration of the Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WAKids). Provides that time spent meeting with students and families or otherwise administering WAKids may be considered instructional hours, and up to three days may be considered school days.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the Senate on February 14, 2012.
  • Referred to the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee on February 14, 2012.
    • Amendment offered in the Senate on February 23, 2012, removes language from section 2 of the bill and places it in the basic education statutes, amending the definitions of instructional hours and school day to allow half-day kindergarten classroom teachers to be able to count the time they use for administering and meeting with students and families regarding WaKids until the 2017-18 school year. The expanded definitions expire in the 2017-18 school year when full-day kindergarten is scheduled to be fully implemented statewide.
    • The amendment failed by voice vote in the Senate on March 2, 2012.
  • Referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee on February 23, 2012.
  • Referred to the Senate Rules Committee on February 27, 2012.
    • Amendment offered by Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe (D) on March 2, 2012, provides that the intent of the legislature is expressed that administration of WaKIDS shall replace administration of other assessments unless those assessments pertain to information that is not covered by the WaKIDS. In addition to its other duties, the work group convened by the superintendent of public instruction is required to produce recommendations with respect to achieving the goal of replacing assessments currently required by school districts with the WaKIDS. The work group may solicit input from people who are recent implementers of the WaKIDS. Until statewide implementation of all-day kindergarten, the superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the director of the department of early learning, may grant annual, renewable waivers to school districts from the requirement to administer the WaKIDS if specified information can be shown by the school district. The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on March 2, 2012.
• Passed 43 to 5 in the Senate on March 2, 2012.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the House on March 5, 2012.
• Passed 86 to 12 in the House on March 5, 2012.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Signed by Gov. Christine Gregoire on March 19, 2012, retains the current implementation schedule for students in state-funded all-day kindergarten and provides that, to the extent funds are available, additional support in the form of implementation grants for the Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WAKids) shall be offered to schools on a schedule to be determined by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) in consultation with the Department of Early Learning (DEL). Tasks the OSPI with convening a workgroup to provide the Legislature with reports and recommendations with respect to: implementation of the WAKids; the optimum way to administer the WAKids to children in half-day kindergarten; and replacing assessments currently used by districts with the WAKids.