FINAL BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 1813

                         C 285 L 91

                     Synopsis As Enacted

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to teacher training and recruitment.

By House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Peery, Betrozoff, Phillips, Jacobsen, Ebersole, Orr, Rasmussen, Ogden, Franklin, Cooper, Hine, H. Myers and O'Brien; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Board of Education).

House Committee on Education

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Education

Background:

Centers for the Improvement of Teaching:  Many people recognize the importance of attracting quality individuals into the teaching profession, and of assisting student teachers and beginning teachers as they start their careers.

Over the last several years, the Legislature has passed a number of bills dealing with teacher recruitment and preparation, including minority teacher recruitment, the creation of a paraprofessional degree program, and the use of cooperating teachers with student teachers.  Some people feel that these programs need to be better coordinated.

Paraprofessional Training:  The 1989 Legislature instructed the State Board of Education and the State Board for Community College Education to develop a 90 unit educational paraprofessional Associate of Arts degree.  In the process of developing the degree program, these groups concluded that 90 units of credits would not be adequate, and have requested that additional flexibility be provided to allow the program to consist of up to 108 credits.

Summary:

Centers for the Improvement of Teaching:  Each Educational Service District (ESD) shall establish a Center for the Improvement of Teaching.  The center shall coordinate programs related to the recruitment and training of K-12 education personnel.  To assist in these activities, each ESD shall establish an Improvement of Teaching Coordinating Council.

Paraprofessional Training:  The requirement that the community college paraprofessional degree be 90 units is removed.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  98   0

Senate 40   0    (Senate amended)

House  95   0    (House concurred)

Effective:    July 28, 1991