Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Education Committee |
HB 2012
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 equitable bonuses to K-12 instructional staff who attain national certification through professional organizations.
Sponsors: Representatives Boehnke, Ramos, Young, Stonier, Harris, Dolan, Sells and Irwin.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/20/20
Staff: Megan Wargacki (786-7194), and Riley O'Leary (786-7296).
Background:
Certificated Instructional Staff.
Certificated instructional staff (CIS) are nonsupervisory school district staff who hold a certificate authorized by the Professional Educator Standards Board. Teachers, school counselors, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, audiologists, school nurses, school social workers, behavior analysts, and school psychologists are all CIS. Voluntary national certification exists for most categories of CIS.
National Board Certification.
For teachers and school counselors, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards offers a voluntary certificate that allows eligible candidates to demonstrate advanced knowledge, skills, and practice in their individual certificate area by completing four components: three portfolio entries, and a computer-based assessment. To be eligible, candidates must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, complete three years of successful employment experience, and hold a valid state license for each of the three years of employment. The National Board Certificate (NBC) is available in 25 certificate areas representing 16 different disciplines and four student developmental levels. For NBCs issued in 2017 or later, the NBC is valid for five years. For NBCs issued prior to 2017, the NBC is valid for ten years.
Annual Bonuses.
An annual bonus is provided to the CIS with a current NBC. Statute provides an additional $5,000 bonus paid to the CIS with a current NBC and an instructional assignment in schools where at least 70 percent of students are eligible for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program (FRLP). The operating budget provides this bonus for the CIS with a current NBC that:
are assigned to a high school with at least 50 percent of students eligible for FRLP;
are assigned to a middle school with at least 60 percent of students eligible for FRLP; and
are assigned to an elementary school with at least 70 percent of students eligible for FRLP.
Each year the annual bonus is adjusted for inflation. In the 2020-21 school year, the annual bonus is $5,621.
National Certification for Non-National Board Certificate Areas.
National certifications are available for occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, audiologists, school nurses, school social workers, behavior analysts, and school psychologists. The requirements for obtaining national certification vary by field but generally include some combination of:
either an exam or a portfolio entry;
two or more years of experience in the field;
supervised experience in the field;
a graduate or professional degree; or
continuing education credits.
Summary of Bill:
If certificated instructional staff including occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, audiologists, school nurses, school social workers, or school psychologists attain national certification through the relevant national professional association, they are provided the same annual bonuses as National Board Certificated instructional staff.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 15, 2020.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.