Representative Lillian Ortiz-Self introduced House Bill 1079, which would allow districts with online school programs to offer online students the option to take statewide assessments remotely. The sponsor said remote testing can reduce travel burdens, ease testing anxiety for some students, and better match testing conditions to the students' learning environments.

"Students who suffer from anxiety . . . wanted a chance to be able to show their performance . . . in their online, at-home, safe environment," Representative Ortiz-Self said.

Parent advocates testified in support: Felicia Kern, president of the Washington Digital Public Schools Alliance, said many online families face long travel and lost wages for testing appointments and that at-home testing could remove those barriers. A learning coach, James Perry, said his son with ASD and ADHD performed better in the online environment and had panicked during in-person test administrations.

OSPI assessment staff (Becky Wallace appearing for OSPI'related teams) said the agency supports the concept but recommended additional time to develop secure administration and proctoring policies. Wallace said OSPI teams are reviewing national models and security options and offered amendatory language to postpone the effective date to allow pilot rulemaking and build policies governing device and network requirements, proctor ratios and test security.

The nut graf: HB 1079 would not remove standardized testing requirements but would permit districts to administer them remotely to online-enrolled students if OSPI develops security and administration protocols that meet state and federal testing requirements.

Ending: the committee received broad public support (many proponent sign-ins) and OSPI asked for implementation time to ensure secure, equitable remote testing; the hearing record will remain open for further consideration.