FINAL BILL REPORT

                                   SSB 5504

                                  C 258 L 91

                              SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Establishing student teaching centers.

SPONSORS:Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Bauer, Bailey, Rinehart, Saling, Murray, Pelz, Gaspard, Patterson, A. Smith, Sutherland and L. Smith).

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

BACKGROUND:

In 1987, the Legislature directed the State Board of Education to establish a two-year pilot program to enhance the student teaching component of teacher preparation programs.  Four projects were funded to support innovative ways to expand student teaching placements throughout the state and to expand student teaching experiences for prospective teacher candidates.  In 1989, the Legislature extended the original projects one additional year, added a project in Eastern Washington, and required the State Board to submit a final report on the program in December 1990.  The State Board recommends in the final report that the student teaching pilot project program be continued on a permanent basis.

In 1990, the Legislature passed executive request legislation establishing the Excellence in Teacher Preparation program (Teachers Training Teachers).  The program requires that all student teachers shall be provided a cooperating teacher and stipends for cooperating teachers are paid through supplemental contracts from funds provided in the state budget. 

SUMMARY:

The State Board of Education, from appropriated funds, shall establish a network of student teaching centers.  The purpose of the student teaching centers is to:  expand student teacher placements in districts statewide, emphasizing populations and locations that are unserved or underserved; provide a cooperating teacher for up to two academic quarters for each student teacher; enhance the student teaching component of teacher preparation programs, including placement in special education and multi-ethnic school settings; and expand access between student teachers and expand opportunities for collaboration between school districts and colleges and universities.

Funds are allocated to the centers by the Superintendent of Public Instruction on the basis of student teaching placements in the educational service districts.  To receive funds, centers must submit documentation indicating:  the existing or proposed center was developed jointly, including participation by at least one school district, one college or university, and one educational service district; one or more of the cooperating organizations has responsibility for administration of the center; and the center provides appropriate training in observation, supervision, and assistance skills and techniques to cooperating teachers, other school building personnel, and school district employees.

The student teaching centers are an alternate means of placing student teachers into school districts.  Field experiences, as defined, may be provided through the student teaching center but the cost is the sole responsibility of the participants cooperating in the center's operation.

The Teachers Training Teachers program is repealed and reenacted, establishing a link between the program and the student teaching centers.

The bill is contingent on funding in the budget.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate      45    0

House 90    0

EFFECTIVE:July 28, 1991