Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Education Committee

SB 5941

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 Bill

Requires the Professional Educator Standards Board to amend or adopt rules that provide for the issuance of certification (other than emergency substitute certification) that permits currently employed higher education adjunct faculty members to serve as substitute teachers.
Sets forth minimum criteria that must be met in order for an adjunct faculty member to obtain the substitute certification, and provides that completion of an approved teacher preparation program may not be a precondition to such certification.

Background:

The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) is tasked in statute with establishing rules determining eligibility and certification of personnel employed in common schools, including certification for emergency or temporary, substitute or provisional duty. The Superintendent of Public Instruction acts as the administrator of the rules and has the power to issue and revoke certificates and permits according to the terms of the PESB rules.

Rules are in place for a variety of types of certificates for teachers, administrators, and educational staff associates. These include rules pertaining to limited certificates. Limited certificates encompass certificates for substitutes, emergency substitutes, and intern substitute teachers, as follows:

To obtain a substitute certificate, an individual must be fully qualified for a regular teaching certificate. A substitute certificate permits the recipient to serve as a substitute teacher in any grade level or subject for up to 30 consecutive school days. The certificate is valid for life.

An emergency substitute certificate enables someone who is not fully qualified for a regular teaching certificate to serve as a substitute in a school district that has exhausted or will exhaust its list of qualified substitutes. School districts initiate the application process for this certificate, and it is valid for up to three years.

An intern substitute teacher certificate allows a student teacher to substitute in the classroom in which he or she is assigned for student teaching. It is valid for up to one year.

All candidates for certification must meet the following general requirements:

No person who is less than 18 years of age may receive a certificate.
Applicants must give evidence of good moral character and personal fitness, by means of affidavits related to any criminal history or behavioral problems, educational history, and work history. They must also complete a record check, including a fingerprint check.

Summary of Bill:

By December 1, 2015, the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) must amend or adopt rules that provide for the issuance of certification (other than emergency substitute certification) that permits currently employed higher education adjunct faculty members to serve as substitute teachers. Minimum criteria are set forth, requiring that, in order to obtain such certification, adjunct faculty members:

possess a minimum of a master's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education;
have three or more years of demonstrated successful experience instructing students; and
meet the age, good moral character, and personal fitness requirements adopted by rule for teachers.

Persons meeting these criteria are not required to have completed an approved teacher preparation program or to hold or have held a regular teaching certificate.