To require, beginning with the 2012-13 school year, the use of a kindergarten assessment process for students in state-funded full-day kindergarten classrooms. The process is to , identify the skills, knowledge, and characteristics of kindergarten students at the beginning of the school year in order to determine kindergarten readiness and inform instruction to meet the needs of individual students. (Companion: HB 1510).   Official Text and Analysis.

To direct the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to consult with the Department of Early Learning (DEL) when specifying a kindergarten assessment process. School districts must provide an opportunity for parents and guardians to excuse their children from participating in the kindergarten assessment process.

To clarify that the provisions of the bill are required only to the extent that funds are available.

Requires, beginning with the 2012-13 school year, the use of a kindergarten assessment process for students in state-funded full-day kindergarten classrooms. The process is to , identify the skills, knowledge, and characteristics of kindergarten students at the beginning of the school year in order to determine kindergarten readiness and inform instruction to meet the needs of individual students. This bill directs the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to consult with the Department of Early Learning (DEL) when specifying a kindergarten assessment process. School districts must provide an opportunity for parents and guardians to excuse their children from participating in the kindergarten assessment process. Provisions in the bill are subject to available funding.

Modifies purposes for a kindergarten assessment to include: supporting early learning provider and parent involvement; and supporting social emotional, physical, cognitive growth of children; requires the administration of the WAKids rather than "a kindergarten assessment process," unless an annual, renewable waiver to utilize a different assessment is granted by the Superintendent; removes the directive to seek input from the University of Washington regarding issues of cultural responsiveness, disability accommodations, and parent involvement and satisfaction, and replaces it with a requirement that the Superintendent and the DEL must assure that a fairness and bias review has been conducted with input from the Achievement Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee and an additional diverse group of community representatives, parents, and educators; and provides that the section requiring the fairness and bias review goes into effect within 90 days after session adjourns.

To require school districts receiving all-day kindergarten support to agree to utilize the Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills. Permits the Superintendent of Public Instruction to grant annual, renewable waivers to school districts to utilize an alternative assessment, and prescribes a time limit and provides criteria for such waivers. Allows parents and guardians to excuse their students from participating in the assessment.

Senate concurred with the House amendments.