SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1230

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                   Education, March 28, 1995

Title:  An act relating to teacher preparation.

Brief Description:  Changing teacher preparation provisions.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Brumsickle, Cole, Silver and Scott; by request of Board of Education).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  3/24/95, 3/28/95 [DP, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Pelz, Vice Chair; Gaspard and Rasmussen.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senators Finkbeiner, Hochstatter and Johnson.

Staff:  Leslie Goldstein (786-7424)

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

Admission to preparation programs - the basic skill test.  An applicant must successfully pass a basic skills test before being admitted to a teacher preparation program.  To pass, the student must have a score equal to the statewide 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.  

Assessment of persons applying for certification.  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 board 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 is not 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 board and others to take other specific actions regarding teacher preparation and certification.

Summary of Bill: Teacher certification assessment.  A current law that requires a teacher assessment to be developed, if the Legislature provides funds, is repealed. 

By January 1, 1997, the State Board must 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 it is implemented.

Preparation program admission basic skills 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 is determined is delegated to the State Board.  A specific provision in statute is deleted that requires applicants to have at least the statewide median score on a general achievement test.   The State Board has the authority to establish waivers.

Other requirements.  The State Board is no longer required 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.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The State Board would like to study how a certification exam is linked to performance-based activities and report to the Legislature by January 1, 1997.  This bill helps align the teacher preparation and certification system with the developing performance-based K-12 school system.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Kathleen Anderson, State Board of Education; Judy Hartmann, WEA.