SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5479

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                 Education, February 18, 1997

Title:  An act relating to time periods for provisional status of certificated employees.

Brief Description:  Changing time periods for provisional status for certificated employees.

Sponsors:  Senators Benton, West, Hochstatter, Swecker, McDonald and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  2/13/97, 2/18/97 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5479 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Staff:  Karen Carter (786-7424)

Background:  Ordinarily, teachers and other non-supervisory certificated staff are deemed "provisional" employees during the first two years of employment by a school district.  However, if the teacher or certificated employee is hired with two or more years of certificated work experience in another Washington State school district, they are provisional district employees only during the first year with the new district. District superintendents may exercise the option not to renew a teacher or non-supervisory certificated employee's contract, subject to appropriate notification of reasons and due process requirements, during their provisional year(s) with the district.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The length of time teachers or non-supervisory certificated staff are considered to be provisional district employees as it relates to contract renewal is modified.  Without regard for prior certificated work experience, all new hires of this job class are deemed provisional during their first three years of employment by a district.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute removes language that makes provisions for teachers and other non-supervisory certificated staff hired with two or more years of prior certificated work experience, such that all new hires of this job class are deemed provisional during their first three years of employment by a district.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  It can be difficult to evaluate a new hire=s teaching potential during their first two years in a classroom.  This bill provides options for both the teacher and the district to mutually evaluate the success of an employment placement.

Testimony Against:  Two years is plenty of time for a district to evaluate a teacher=s potential if administrators are diligent in working with new hires.  The bill does not guarantee notice or support for provisional staff whose performance needs improvement.

Testified:  Senator Benton, prime sponsor; Milt Dennison, Camus School District (pro); Dwayne Slate, School Directors (pro); Bob Maier, WEA (con); Barbara Mertens, WASA (pro).