FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5537

                          C 222 L 95

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Changing teacher preparation provisions.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators McAuliffe, Pelz, Rasmussen, Kohl and Wojahn; by request of Board of Education).

Senate Committee on Education

House Committee on Education

Background:  The State Board of Education adopts rules establishing the procedures for becoming a teacher in the state of Washington.  Before entering a teacher preparation program approved by the State Board, applicants who do not at least have a bachelor's degree must successfully pass a basic skills test and have a score equal to the statewide median score on a general skills test.  Upon successfully completing the approved teacher preparation program, the person is eligible for initial certification as a teacher.

Teacher candidates are not required to pass an examination before becoming a certificated teacher.  The State Board is only authorized to develop an assessment for teacher candidates if the Legislature specifically appropriates funds to cover the cost of developing an assessment.

Summary: Teacher Certification Assessment:  A current law that requires a teacher assessment to be developed, if the Legislature provides funds, is repealed.  The State Board, by January 1, 1997, must make recommendations to the Legislature on teacher assessment.  Any recommendation to implement a teacher assessment must be approved by the Legislature before it is implemented.

Repeal of Miscellaneous Statutes:  The following statutes either encouraging or requiring the State Board to take certain actions are repealed:  1) encouraging instruction in child abuse issues in teacher preparation programs; 2) requiring the board to review ways to strengthen cooperative agreements between public schools and institutions of higher education; 3) requiring plans to increase interactions between higher education faculty and K-12 teachers; 4) requiring review of the interstate agreement on the qualifications of educational personnel; and 5) creating an administrator internship task force.

The statute requiring The Evergreen State College and regional universities to establish an extension department for teacher training and in-service is repealed.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate    23 24 (Senate failed)

Senate    26 22 (Senate reconsidered)

House    95 0 (House amended)

Senate    48 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  July 23, 1995