SENATE BILL REPORT

                            HB 1812

     AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 2, 1993

Brief Description:  Changing teacher evaluations for teachers with at least four years of satisfactory evaluations.

SPONSORS: Representatives Jones, Dorn, R. Meyers, Schmidt, Pruitt, Kessler, Karahalios and Carlson

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Pelz, Chairman; McAuliffe, Vice Chairman; Gaspard, Hochstatter, Moyer, Nelson, Rinehart, and A. Smith.

Staff:  Leslie Goldstein (786‑7424)

Hearing Dates: March 26, 1993; April 2, 1993

BACKGROUND:

The Superintendent of Public Instruction is responsible for establishing minimum criteria for the evaluation and development of certificated staff.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction has also adopted model evaluation programs and model professional growth programs. 

Under current law, a certificated employee must be observed twice during the school year for a total of 60 minutes with a written evaluation following each observation.  After four years of employment, this evaluation procedure is only required every third year.  During the other two years, a short evaluation is permitted with either a 30 minute observation and a written evaluation, or two observations for a total of 60 minutes without a written summary.  This short evaluation cannot be used to determine if an employee's work is unsatisfactory.

SUMMARY:

When evaluating a certificated employee employed for more than four years, districts are required to use an evaluation program adopted by rule by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  The full evaluation with 60 minutes of observation and written comments must be done every five years.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

Professional development programs help teachers improve their teaching in supportive environments encouraging professional responsibility.  Quality improvement occurs when teachers work in teams in a collegial atmosphere.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

The use of formative or professional growth evaluations should not be required.  Increasing the time between formal evaluations is a problem since once every five years is too long.

TESTIFIED:  Representative Jones, prime sponsor (pro); Ann Randall, Olympic Uniserve Council (Pro); Dennis Bolton, Evaluation Consultant(pro); Debra Wing, Southside School District (pro); Walter Ball, Washington State Principals Association (con); John Kvamme, Tacoma School District (con)