H-2712

AN ACT Relating to teacher assessment for certification; adding new sections to chapter 28A.410 RCW; creating a new section; and repealing RCW 28A.410.020.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds and declares:

(1) Washington has a strong and continually improving system of teacher preparation and certification.

(2) Incorporating teacher assessment for certification into the system cannot guarantee good teaching performance, but can contribute to public confidence.

(3) Teacher assessment for certification can guard against admission to the teaching profession of persons who have not demonstrated that they are competent in the basic skills of reading, writing, communications, and math; knowledgeable about the skills required to teach; and knowledgeable in the subjects they will be assigned to teach.

(4) Teacher assessment for certification should be implemented as a complementary element to the existing system of teacher preparation and certification.

(5) Incorporating teacher assessment for certification should be done in a manner that is aligned with the direction of the improvement of student achievement act of 1993, chapter 336, Laws of 1993.

(6) Teacher assessment for certification should add value to the candidate's professional growth journey.

(7) Teacher assessment for certification will contribute to maintaining an already high quality system of teacher preparation and certification in Washington.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.410 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The state board of education shall provide for the implementation of one or more means of assessing the knowledge or abilities, or both, of all applicants for teaching certificates required by the state board under this chapter.

(2) The state board at a minimum shall assess beginning not later than September 1, 1998:

(a) An applicant's knowledge in the subjects of reading, writing, communications, and mathematics as determined by the state board. The state board must begin this assessment not later than September 1, 1998; and

(b) An applicant's knowledge of teaching as determined by the state board. For purposes of this assessment, "knowledge of teaching" means the knowledge of teaching skills and theory that is supported by research as necessary to be an effective teacher, which is not subject specific, and which includes skills in classroom management and discipline, organization and delivery of lessons, assessment strategies, and working and communicating with parents. The state board must begin this assessment not later than September 1, 1999.

(3) In addition to the assessments under subsection (2) of this section, the state board of education also shall provide for the implementation of one or more means of assessing an applicant's knowledge in the subjects for which the applicant has received, or applied for, an endorsement. The assessment of subject knowledge shall not include instructional methodology. The state board must begin this assessment not later than September 1, 2000.

(4) The state board of education may provide for the implementation of one or more means of assessing an applicant's knowledge in such other matters as may be required in the discretion of the state board.

(5) On each of the assessments under subsections (2) and (3) of this section, an applicant shall achieve a minimum assessment score, or minimum assessment scores, established by the state board as a condition to being issued a teaching certificate and subject endorsements to the certificate.

(6) The state board of education and superintendent of public instruction, as determined by the state board, may contract with one or more third parties for:

(a) The development, purchase, administration, scoring, and reporting of scores of the assessments established by the state board under this section;

(b) Related clerical and administrative activities; or

(7) Applicants for teaching certificates shall pay fees established by the state board of education for initial assessments, reassessments, scoring of assessments, reporting of assessment scores, and clerical and administrative activities related thereto. Such fees shall be reasonably related to the direct and indirect costs of the state board and superintendent of public instruction in implementing this section, including contractual costs.

(8) Fee revenues received by the state board and superintendent of public instruction under this section shall be deposited in the teacher assessment account hereby created in the custody of the state treasurer. Moneys deposited in the account shall be expended exclusively for the direct and indirect costs of implementing this section. The account is subject to the allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for disbursement.

(9) The superintendent of public instruction is responsible for supervision and providing support services to administer this section.

(10) The state board of education shall collaboratively develop and implement the assessments required under this section with the superintendent of public instruction and the commission on student learning. The state board also shall ensure that at a minimum, teachers, administrators, and representatives of institutions of higher education participate in the development and implementation of the assessments. The state board shall submit the proposed assessments to the education committees of the house of representatives and senate for the committees' review prior to implementing the assessments.

(11) The state board shall adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW that the board determines are reasonably necessary for the effective and efficient implementation of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28A.410 RCW to read as follows:

The state board of education shall report annually to the legislature on both the number and percentage of candidates who are successful in passing the assessments for certification required under section 2 of this act. The information shall be reported for the individual public and private colleges and universities in Washington as well as reported on an aggregate basis. The report shall also include results dis-aggregated demographically.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. RCW 28A.410.020 and 1996 c 309 s 1, 1991 c 116 s 20, 1988 c 251 s 4, & 1987 c 525 s 202 are each repealed.