HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1885

                  As Amended by the Senate

Title:  An act relating to teachers recruiting future teachers.

Brief Description:  Creating the teachers recruiting future teachers program.

Sponsor(s):  By House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Roland, Forner, Peery, Orr, G. Fisher, Cole, Scott, Haugen, Vance, Riley, Pruitt, Jacobsen, Nelson, Ebersole, Winsley and Rasmussen).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Education, March 4, 1991, DPS;

Passed House, March 12, 1991, 98-0;

Amended by Senate.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

EDUCATION

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 1885 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 18 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; Orr; Phillips; Rasmussen; Roland; H. Sommers; and Valle.

Staff:  Susan Kirkpatrick (786-7291).

Background:  There is some concern that a shortage of qualified teachers is developing in Washington schools.   The supply of teachers is affected by the fact that there is competition for college graduates from business and other professions.  With respect to demand, it is predicted that there will be an increase in the number of children coming of school age.  In Washington, this problem is aggravated by the growing influx of new families from other states and foreign countries.

Summary of Bill:  The teachers recruiting future teachers program is created.  Participating teachers will make presentations to high school classes discussing the rewards and challenges of teaching.  Interested students may meet monthly for four months with a participating teacher for follow-up discussions on the issues in teaching.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S): A teachers recruiting future teachers program is created in SPI to promote and replicate the teachers recruiting future teachers model program and to promote and expand the annual Education Week program at Central Washington University or other institutions of higher education.  SPI, working with the directors of both programs, shall adopt rules to implement the act.  The sum of $49,000 is appropriated for the Teachers Recruiting Future Teachers element of the total program.  The null and void clause is removed.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 20, 1991.

Appropriation:  Removed.  However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.  However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

Testimony For:  The purpose of the bill is to encourage more students to enter the teaching profession.  The program was started in the Highline School District and has expanded to four other school districts.  Washington will experience a severe teacher shortage so recruiting is very important.  It is a program that allows enthusiastic teachers to talk to 10th grade students every year.  The program helps change public perception of the teaching profession and is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to improve education.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Roland, prime sponsor (in favor); Jacqueline Simonds, Director of Teachers Recruiting Future Teachers (TRFT) (in favor); Michael McLeods, TRFT teacher, presenter (in favor); Katie Henderson, TRFT teacher, presenter (in favor); Karyn Clarke, Coordinator of Counseling and Career Development, Tacoma School District (in favor); Joanne Bargelt, TRFT teacher, presenter, Tacoma School District (in favor); Misty Shauf, TRFT sophomore at Evergreen High School (in favor); Anna Nguyen, TRFT Evergreen High School student (in favor); and Gordon Comfort, TRFT Evergreen High School student (in favor).

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Yeas 98; Nays 0; Excused 0