HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1230

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to teacher preparation.

Brief Description:  Changing teacher preparation provisions.

Sponsors:  Representatives Brumsickle, Cole, Silver and Scott; by request of Board of Education.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Education:  1/27/95, 2/14/95 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 17 members:  Representatives Brumsickle, Chairman; Elliot, Vice Chairman; Johnson, Vice Chairman; Cole, Ranking Minority Member; Clements; Dickerson; G. Fisher; Hatfield; McMahan; Pelesky; Quall; Radcliff; Smith; Talcott; B. Thomas; Thompson and Veloria.

Staff:  Robert Butts (786-7111).

Background:  The State Board of Education (SBE) is generally responsible for establishing requirements for becoming a teacher in the State of Washington.  In several cases, however, the Legislature has adopted specific requirements.

Preparation program admission basic skill test

One such requirement specifies that an applicant must successfully pass a basic skills test before entering a teacher preparation program.  To pass, the student must have a score equal to the state-wide median score on a general skills test.  Exceptions are provided for those who have a bachelor's degree, or who are at least 21 and have demonstrated competency through two years of college level course work and a written essay.  

Teacher certification assessment

Another Legislative requirement, which is intended to be implemented in May 1996, will require individuals applying for initial teacher certification to pass an assessment before they receive certification.   However, the SBE is authorized to develop this only if the Legislature specifically appropriates funds to cover the cost of developing the assessment.  If no funds are provided, the assessment will not be required.

Other requirements

The Legislature also has adopted requirements pertaining to required coursework in child abuse and higher education faculty involvement in K-12 classrooms, and has instructed the SBE and others to take other specific actions regarding teacher preparation and certification.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

Teacher certification assessment

A current law that requires a teacher assessment, subject to Legislative funding, is repealed. 

By January 1, 1997, the SBE is directed to make recommendations to the Legislature on:

(a)  How to link a teacher assessment with performance-based preparation program approval standards;

(b)  How to link a teacher assessment to the performance-based public education system; and

(c)  Whether the assessment should be required as a diagnostic tool instead of a certification requirement.

Any recommendation to implement a teacher assessment must be approved by the Legislature before such implementation occurs.

Preparation program admission basic skill test

The requirements for admission to teacher preparation programs are changed.  While students are still required to demonstrate competency in basic skills, the decision regarding how competency will be determined is delegated to the SBE.  A specific provision in statute is deleted that requires applicants to have at least the state-wide median score on a general achievement test.  

Other requirements

The SBE is no longer required in state statute to: 1) require instruction in child abuse issues in teacher preparation programs; 2) review ways to strengthen cooperative agreements between public schools and institutions of higher education; 3) increase interactions between higher education faculty and K-12 teachers; 4) review the interstate agreement on the qualifications of educational personnel; and 5) create an administrator internship task force.  A requirement that The Evergreen State College and regional universities establish extension departments for teacher training and in-service is deleted.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  A provision was added that requires the Legislature to approve a teacher assessment, including how it will be funded, before the assessment is implemented.  A requirement that regional universities establish extension departments for teacher training was deleted from current law.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The State Board of Education would like to evaluate the development of a teacher assessment based on what teachers should know and be able to do.  The current state law that requires individuals to have a score equal to the state-wide median score on a general skills test score for admission into a teacher preparation program weeds out very capable students.  There are students who have good grades and who would be excellent teachers who do not do well on standardized tests.

Testimony Against:  Teachers should not have to pay for taking the test, which could be very expensive.

Testified:  Kathleen Anderson and Millard Battles, State Board of Education (pro); Jan Kido, Washington Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (pro); Sarah Cross, student (pro); and Judy Hartmann, Washington Education Association (concerns).