| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Education Committee | |
HB 2870
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Providing opportunities for professional development for instructional assistants.
Sponsors: Representatives Liias, Sullivan, Ericks, Williams, Loomis, Simpson, Ormsby, Miloscia, Hasegawa, Roberts, Santos, Quall and Nelson.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/29/08
Staff: Barbara McLain (786-7383).
Background:
In the 1999-01 biennium, the Legislature consolidated professional development funds from a
variety of sources and provided funding specifically for Summer Accountability Institutes
(Summer Institutes) to be organized by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
(OSPI). The Summer Institutes are intended to provide school district staff with training in
assessment, data analysis, successful teaching models, research on curriculum and instruction,
and planning tools to improve instruction.
In recent years, the Summer Institutes have become five-day conferences held at three locations
across the state with attendance of 800 to 1,000 teachers and staff at each conference. There is
also a three-day January Conference, usually in Spokane. Each conference has strands of
presentations focused on a particular theme or target audience. For example, the OSPI was
directed to focus at least one institute in 2008 and 2009 specifically on mathematics instruction.
Summary of Bill:
The OSPI, in consultation with the Public School Employees of Washington and other groups
representing classified school employees, must develop and offer a training strand through the
Summer Institutes and the January Conference that is targeted to classified instructional
assistants and designed to help them maximize their effectiveness in improving student
achievement.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 22, 2008.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.