SENATE BILL REPORT

                  EHB 2432

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                 Education, February 27, 1998

Title:  An act relating to educator internship programs.

Brief Description:  Changing educator internship programs.

Sponsors:  Representatives Hickel, Johnson, Cole, O'Brien and Talcott; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  2/27/98 [DP-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Hochstatter, Chair; Finkbeiner, Vice Chair; Goings, Johnson, McAuliffe, Rasmussen and Zarelli.

Staff:  Susan Mielke (786-7422)

Background:  As part of education reform, the 1993 Legislature created two administrator internship support programs.  One program supports internships for principal candidates and the other supports internships for superintendent and program administrator candidates.  The programs fund release time for school district employees who are enrolled in an administrator preparation program that requires completion of a 45-day internship with a mentor administrator.  Candidates must apply to their local school district for an internship.  Each school district submits the names of internship applicants to its educational service district (ESD).  ESD, with an advisory board, selects the participants.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) allocates funds for the program to ESDs based on a statutory allocation process.

The 1997-99 biennial budget did not provide specific funding for the internship programs.  The budget transferred an amount equal to the internship programs' funding to the block grant program.  The block grant program provides discretionary funds to school districts to use for educational purposes.

Summary of Bill:  The provisions governing the two administrator internship support programs are revised.

Participants in the internship programs must agree to four new conditions: (1) to seek employment in Washington State after receiving their administrator certification; (2) to participate in training to improve education; (3) to contribute to activities to improve education at the school or the district where they serve as interns; and (4) to participate in an evaluation of the internship programs.

Interns are selected by the SPI rather than ESDs.  SPI is assisted by an advisory board with specified representation.  When selecting participants for the principal internship program, SPI gives a priority to candidates who intend to serve as building administrators in schools which have had difficulty finding qualified building administrators.

Funding for the internships is distributed to participating schools districts by SPI, rather than being allocated to ESDs through a statutory formula.  SPI may retain up to 7 percent of the program funds to cover the agency's implementation costs.

The bill contains a null and void clause unless specifically funded in the budget.

Appropriation:  $800,000.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 27, 1998.

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

Testimony For:  Research and experience shows us that principals play a vital leadership role in our schools.  It is critical that they receive the proper training.  Last year the internship program was not eliminated when the program funds were block granted, but it was diluted.  The state needs to provide categorical funding to this program so our future principals can obtain practical experience with students and with staff, which will help them to be effective administrators.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Rep. Hickel, prime sponsor (pro); Tom Rockefeller, AWSP (pro); Barbara Mertens, WASA (pro).