HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2382

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 Summary of Substitute Bill

Requires the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (WTB) and the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) to develop and disseminate information designed to increase recruitment into teacher preparation programs, using the WTB and other existing information channels.
Requires the PESB-approved residency teacher preparation programs at institutions of higher education to submit a proposal to offer an alternate route program if they are not already a partner in an alternative route program.
Provides for professional development and mentor support to candidates in alternate route teacher certification programs.

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 18 members: Representatives Santos, Chair; Ortiz-Self, Vice Chair; Magendanz, Ranking Minority Member; Muri, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Stambaugh, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Caldier, Griffey, Hargrove, Hayes, S. Hunt, Kilduff, Kuderer, McCaslin, Orwall, Pollet, Rossetti and Springer.

Background:

Teacher Recruitment.

School districts are responsible for the development and implementation of their own recruitment programs.

Alternate Route Teacher Certification Programs.

Alternate route certification programs (ARCPs) are designed to fill subject matter or geographic need shortage areas by allowing professionals with work and life experience to segue into teaching through performance-based alternative certification routes. School districts, or districts in cooperation with an educational service district, work in partnership with higher education programs to offer the ARCPs. The ARCPs are designed for classified staff and paraprofessionals, staff who hold a Bachelor of Arts degree from an accredited institution, individuals from outside the school system who have subject-matter expertise, and individuals teaching with conditional certificates.

The Beginning Educator Support Team Program.

The Beginning Educator Support Team (BEST) Program provides professional development and mentor support for beginning educators and educators on probation. Grant funding for the BEST Program is administered by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The program includes professional development for beginning educators and mentors, release time for beginning educators and mentors to work together, orientation or individualized assistance before the start of the school year, and program evaluation.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

Teacher Recruitment.

The WTB and the PESB must work with appropriate public agencies, school and educational service districts, and other parties to disseminate information designed to increase recruitment into teacher preparation programs, using the WTB and other existing channels.

Alternate Route Teacher Certification Programs.

The PESB must convene meetings between school districts that do not have an ARCP and the nearest institution of higher education with an approved PESB teacher preparation program in order to determine whether they can partner to apply to operate an ARCP.

By September 1, 2016, all PESB-approved residency teacher preparation programs at the public institutions of higher education must submit a proposal to the PESB to offer an ARCP if they are not currently a partner in an ARCP. If the proposal is accepted, the institution must offer the ARCP.

The Beginning Educator Support Team Program.

Candidates in alternate route teacher programs are offered professional development and mentor support through the BEST Program. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall notify districts about the program and encourage them to apply for program funds.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill: (1) removes the requirement for the statewide public awareness campaign to increase recruitment into teacher certification programs, and (2) adds a requirement that the WTB and the PESB develop and disseminate information designed to increase recruitment into teacher certification programs, using the WTB and other existing information channels.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill supports an alternative way to become a teacher. It offers more than just the student teaching experience; new teachers will have a mentor. Right now the BEST Program covers very few new teachers.

Alternate route programs work. The programs have strong standards and rigor. The ARCP brings the perspectives and experiences of industry experts from multiple fields to the classroom, which helps kids focus on career paths. Right now, only 5.8 percent of Washington teachers received their certification through this program.

Alternate route programs have been slow to grow in part because the funding was suspended for three years, and because districts had a surplus of candidates to draw from. That has changed. This year, the national shortage of teachers has struck the state. Teachers feel a lack of support for their profession and a shortage of professional compensation. They want mentor support.

Private institutions should be encouraged to develop alternate route teacher certification programs. Mentoring and supervising is a lot of work. It would be good to provide an incentive for educators to become mentors.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Magendanz, prime sponsor; Randy Dorn, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; Jennifer Wallace, Professional Educators Board; Lucinda Young, Washington Education Association; Bob Cooper, Washington Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; Nova Gattman, Workforce Board; Amy Anderson, Association of Washington Business; Joyce Wesgard, Washington Association for Career and Technical Education; and Jack Archer, State Board of Education