HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1416

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to recognizing teaching degrees in deaf education from a program approved by the council on education of the deaf.

Brief Description:  Recognizing teaching degrees in deaf education from a program approved by the council on education of the deaf.

Sponsors:  Representatives Mulliken, Romero, Talcott, Clements, Johnson, Costa, Wolfe, Mielke and Dunn.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Education:  2/7/97, 3/4/97 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Johnson, Chairman; Hickel, Vice Chairman; Cole, Ranking Minority Member; Keiser, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Linville; Quall; Smith; Sterk; Sump; Talcott and Veloria.

Staff:  Joe Hauth (786-7111).

Background:  The State Board of Education (SBE) establishes the requirements for professional education, including endorsements for certificated teachers to teach in certain subject areas.  Certificated teachers require at least one subject area endorsement. To obtain an endorsement, an aspiring teacher must complete a certain number of hours in pertinent course work.  A teacher may substitute in-service training for course work. 

In order to receive an endorsement in special education, the applicant must complete the minimum course work credit hours in the subject area of special education, including, but not limited to, 24 quarter hours or 16 semester hours in

-exceptionality;

-alternative delivery systems and strategies for special education;

-student assessment and evaluation;

-procedural and substantive legal issues in special education; and

-instructional methods in special education.   

Federal standards for special education teachers require the teacher to meet the highest individual teaching standards.  In practice, special education instructors meet the highest standards by successfully completing a teacher preparation program and obtaining a special education endorsement.

The Council on Education of the Deaf approves 39 universities in the United States that offer a baccalaureate or masters= degree in deaf education.  These universities are listed in the American Annals of the Deaf.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Legislature finds that the educational development of deaf and hard of hearing children may be improved by increasing access to teachers who have been trained at a college or university approved by the Council on Education of the Deaf.  Deaf and hard of hearing students need to be provided with greater opportunities to develop the unique strategies and perceptions shared in deaf culture.  The Legislature intends to increase these opportunities by eliminating barriers to educators who are uniquely qualified to instruct deaf and hard of hearing students.

The SBE must waive the special education endorsement requirement for an applicant who

-possesses a baccalaureate or master=s degree in deaf education from a program approved by the Council on Education of the Deaf; and

-intends to instruct deaf or hard of hearing children.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The SBE must waive the special education endorsement requirements for applicants who possess a baccalaureate or master's degree in deaf education from a teacher training program approved by the Council on the Education of the Deaf.  The provision regarding a special education endorsement waiver for qualified individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing is stricken.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Deaf and hard of hearing students benefit the most educationally from teachers who are themselves deaf and hard of hearing.  Deaf and hard of hearing children are not getting the quality of care needed in school.  Deaf and hard of hearing teachers are needed for these students because they understand the student=s special needs.  Teachers who have attended schools accredited by the Council on the Education of the Deaf have hands-on experience with deaf and hard of hearing children, and they are competent in sign language.  The federal teaching standards for special education students may be a concern if the special education endorsement is waived.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Mulliken, prime sponsor; Dorene Mykol, State Board of Education, Tanya Mickelson, Washington State Association of Deaf; Larry Petersen, Seattle Central Community College; and Robert Roth, Community Service Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.