HB 2760.E - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Finds and declares:  (1) Creation of a public body whose focus is educator quality would be likely to bring greater focus and attention to the profession;

     (2) professional educator standards boards are consumer protection boards, establishing assessment policies to ensure the public that its new practitioners have the knowledge to be competent;

     (3) the highest possible standards for all educators are essential in ensuring attainment of high academic standards by all students;

     (4) teacher assessment for certification can guard against admission to the teaching profession of persons who have not demonstrated that they are knowledgeable in the subjects they will be assigned to teach; and

     (5) teacher assessment for certification should be implemented as an additional element to the system of teacher preparation and certification.

     Creates the Washington professional educator standards board.

     Declares that the Washington professional educator standards board shall:  (1) Serve as an advisory body to the superintendent of public instruction and as the sole advisory body to the state board of education on issues related to educator recruitment, hiring, preparation, certification including high quality alternative routes to certification, mentoring and support, professional growth, retention, governance, prospective teacher pedagogy assessment, prospective principal assessment, educator evaluation including but not limited to peer evaluation, and revocation and suspension of licensure;

     (2) submit annual reports and recommendations, beginning December 1, 2000, to the governor, the education and fiscal committees of the legislature, the state board of education, and the superintendent of public instruction concerning duties and activities within the board's advisory capacity; and

     (3) establish the prospective teacher assessment system for basic skills and subject knowledge that shall be required to obtain residency certification  pursuant to this act.

     Repeals RCW 28A.410.020.