HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2118

BYRepresentatives Dorn, Brumsickle, G. Fisher and K. Wilson 

Expanding coverage from grade six to grade eight of certification for candidates for grades preschool through grade six certificates.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (16)

      Signed by Representatives G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle, Cole, Dorn, Fuhrman, Holland, Horn, Phillips, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Schoon, Valle, Walker and K. Wilson.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (2)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; and Jones.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 15, 1989

BACKGROUND:

In 1987, the Legislature restructured the grade levels covered by various types of teaching certificates to cover only grades preschool through six.  In the past, an elementary certificate authorized teaching in grades kindergarten through eight.  In August 1987, rules went into effect requiring that persons seeking certification have two endorsements in any of 29 teaching endorsement areas.  The endorsements were adopted by the State Board of Education to insure that teachers are trained in the areas in which they are assigned to teach.  The endorsement, in specific subject areas such as English, social studies, mathematics, and science, covers grades four through 12.  It should be noted that some university programs have expressed concern about endorsing an individual to teach specialized subject matter over such a range of grade levels. The argument has been that the skills and teaching styles used in grades kindergarten through eight are very different than the skills and type of instruction used in grades nine through 12.

An endorsement in elementary education which allows assignment in grades kindergarten through eight is covered by a certificate that only allows certification for grades kindergarten through six.  It should be noted that the 1987 changes in certification required that anyone obtaining a major in elementary education, early childhood education, or special education must also have at least 30 quarter hours or 20 semester hours in one academic field, thus making the requirements for these majors more stringent and consistent with the endorsement concept.

The elimination of kindergarten through eighth grade certification has created significant staffing problems for districts which have adopted a middle school concept, covering grades six through eight.  The middle school concept emphasizes assigning students to a core curriculum teacher who instructs the students in reading, language arts, and social studies.  With a kindergarten through grade six certificate, a district might hire a teacher with an elementary education major as a core teacher, but that teacher may only instruct sixth grade students in the middle school.  For the students in grade seven and eight, a teacher with separate endorsements in each of these areas must be hired.

SUMMARY:

Certification covering grades preschool through eight is authorized.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Alan Burke, Orting Middle School, Washington State Association of Middle Schools; Judy Hartmann, Superintendent of Public Instruction; and Walter Ball, Association of Washington School Principals.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The purpose of this bill is to recognize that many districts have moved to a middle school structure.  That structure is concerned with a smooth transition from the elementary school to the departmentalized high school.  This is accomplished by having a teacher assigned to a group of students for three or four periods per day.  This teacher also acts as an advisor and advocate for these students.  The emphasis is on further development of the basic skills and exploration of other subjects and participation rather than competition in a variety of activities.  With the differences in certification and endorsements, this can create problems in staffing for the middle school.  We do not want to have children taught by teachers who do not have any instruction in the subject matter they teach.  We do, however, want to retain the flexibility and support that a core program provides for students at the junior high school level.

The second portion of this bill, which asks for a study of the need for developing middle school certification, is not unique to this state.  Twenty-seven states have already recognized this need and adopted special certification requirements for middle school teachers.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.