HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1365

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to teacher education.

Brief Description:  Requiring course work to help work with students from diverse backgrounds a requirement for teacher certification.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Phillips, Peery, Holland, Valle, Prentice, Cole, Wineberry, Jones, Nelson, Jacobsen and Wang.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Education, February 28, 1991, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

EDUCATION

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 1365 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 19 members:  Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; Vance, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Betrozoff; Broback; Brumsickle; Cole; Dorn; Holland; P. Johnson; Jones; Neher; Orr; Phillips; Rasmussen; Roland; H. Sommers; and Valle.

Staff:  Robert Butts (786-7111).

Background:  From 1980 to 1988, the percentage of minority children in Washington's K-12 schools increased from 12.5 percent to 16.5 percent of the total student population.  Future projections indicate that this increase in minority  children will continue.  In 1988, minority teachers comprised 5.6 percent of the teaching work force.

Research has shown that children from different racial and ethnic groups have different learning styles, and that certain teaching styles may be effective with some groups of children, but not others.

It is felt by some that college teacher preparation programs do not adequately prepare teachers for working with minority students, and that a greater emphasis needs to be placed on ensuring future teachers are skilled in working with a diversity of students.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Effective September 1, 1992, the State Board of Education shall require that the general knowledge to be learned by all students in teacher education programs include the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively teach and work with students from diverse racial and ethnic populations.

By December 15, 1993, the State Board of Education shall submit a report on actions that teacher preparation programs have taken to implement the objectives of the legislation.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  A requirement that each student take at least 45 hours of course work in working with diverse students was removed.  In its place, programs will be required to include diversity education throughout their curricula.  The report to the House and Senate Education committees was also added.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The growing number of minority students in our schools makes it imperative that teachers be better trained to work with a diverse student body.

Testimony Against:  While we support the concept, we are opposed to requiring specific hour requirements.  These types of requirements are very difficult to document.

Witnesses:  Carol Merz, Association of Teacher Preparation Programs (Supports concept, opposes bill as written); Marcia Costello, SPI (Supports concept); and Jean Leonard, Seattle School District (Pro).