SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6294

BYSenators Saling, Bauer, von Reichbauer, Stratton, Rinehart, Smitherman, Bailey, Cantu, Bender, Warnke and Johnson

Establishing the local master's degree teacher training program.

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 23, 1990; January 31, 1990

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6294 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Saling, Chairman; Bauer, Smitherman, Stratton, von Reichbauer.

Senate Staff:Jean Six (786-7423)

                  February 2, 1990

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 14, 1990

Senate Staff:Linda Brownell (786-7715)

                  February 16, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION, JANUARY 31, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Educational reform has been the focus of many recent studies.  In an effort to address the issue of reform and the quality of education provided by the common schools, the Legislature has established a requirement that all teachers have a master's degree to obtain continuing certification after August 31, 1992.  Those teachers already certificated will find an incentive to earn a master's degree in the salary schedule.  There will be an impact on the ability of institutions of higher education to meet the demand for master's degree programs.  That demand is unknown.

SUMMARY:

The Local Master's Degree Teacher Training Program will provide access in the community for master's degree programs.  The program shall provide up to five grants to fund pilot projects which shall be selected by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  The projects shall be in cooperation with an institution of higher education and a school district(s).  Funding shall provide for planning, coordination and teacher based research projects. 

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The Higher Education Coordinating (HEC) Board shall establish the local master's degree teacher training program.  The program shall provide up to five grants to be awarded by the HEC Board to institutions of higher education or to local school districts; a minimum of two grants shall be awarded to cooperative proposals and at least one of the cooperative recipients shall be among rural school districts.  Higher education participation shall be limited to institutions whose main campuses are located in the state of Washington.  All proposals for local master's degrees in teacher training involving public universities shall be approved by the HEC Board.  The HEC Board shall submit a report to the Legislature by January 31, 1993.

Appropriation:    $300,000

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 11, 1990

Senate Committee - Testified: HIGHER EDUCATION:  Dave Irwin, Washington Friends; Hugh Fleetwood, Council of Faculty Reps; Bob Pickles, WEA; Marilyn Baker, HEC Board; Susan Albert, Federal Way School District; Terry Teale, K. Ramo, COP; Ralph Carlson, North Kitsap School District; Ted Andrews, SPI

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS:  Monica Schmidt, State Board of Education (pro); Ted Andrews, SPI (pro); Hugh Fleetwood, Council of Faculty Representatives; Bob Pickles, WEA (pro); Terry Teale, Katrina Myer, COP/Higher Education Coordinating Board