HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2504

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to alternate teacher certification.

Brief Description:  Establishing alternate teacher certification.

Sponsors:  Representatives McMahan, Brumsickle, Johnson, Thompson, Elliot, D. Sommers, Sterk, B. Thomas and Goldsmith.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Education:  1/23/96, 1/26/96 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Brumsickle, Chairman; Elliot, Vice Chairman; Johnson, Vice Chairman; Clements; Fuhrman; McMahan; Pelesky; Radcliff; Smith; Talcott; B. Thomas and Thompson.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 6 members:  Representatives Keiser, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Hatfield; Linville; Poulsen; Quall and Veloria.

Staff:  Susan Ronn (786-7292).

Background:   All teachers in the state of Washington must be certificated.  Several forms of certification exist, including traditional initial and continuing certification, vocational instructors certification, and alternative certification.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  With the intention of attracting career professionals and prevent teacher shortages, an alternate teaching certificate is created. 

A candidate for the alternate teaching certificate must

!Possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.

!Have at least five years' work experience relevant to the area in which seeking an endorsement or sufficient knowledge of the subject area to be taught.  The superintendent of the school district determines, on a case-by-case basis, what constitutes sufficient knowledge.  Work experience or knowledge shall meet the requirements for an endorsement.

!Meet age and character requirements for teachers and comply with background check.

!Have a contract for employment in a Washington school district.

Before beginning to teach under an alternate certification, the individual must develop a plan with the school district for training, supervision, guidance, and support.  The district must assign a mentor teacher and evaluate the alternate certification teacher under normal teacher evaluation procedures.  Pre-service training may be required, but no more training may be required than is standard for other teachers.

The alternate teaching certificate allows the teacher to serve either full- or part-time.  This certificate is valid for no more than the equivalent of two years of full-time teaching.  At that time, the teacher must apply for initial certification or its equivalent.  The granting of such certification will be conditioned on satisfaction of all requirements of this law, two years of successful teaching, and recommendation by the teacher's supervising principal.  No additional course work or experience shall be required.

In determining state allocations and salaries for alternate certification teachers, the school district shall consider the teacher's education and employment experience, including relevant, non-education employment.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  One of the qualifications for an alternate teaching certification was changed from 10 years' relevant work experience to five years' relevant work experience or sufficient knowledge of the subject area to be taught.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Career professionals and people with extensive knowledge of a subject area will be attracted into the teaching profession.  This benefits students and helps prevent teacher shortages.

Testimony Against:  Other options already exist to attract career professionals from diverse backgrounds.  This does not establish an alternate route to preparation for a teaching career, but merely addresses certification.  The bill does not balance the requirements of academics and experience necessary for a teaching career.  While the concept may be valid, the issue of preparation needs to be addressed.

Testified:  Representative McMahan, prime sponsor; Larry Davis, state Board of Education (con); Judy Hartmann, Washington Education Association (con); Walter Ball, Association of School Principals (con); and Barbara Mertens, Washington Association of School Administrators (con).