SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5593

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                   Education, March 3, 1999

                  Ways & Means, March 8, 1999

Title:  An act relating to the Washington professional educator standards board.

Brief Description:  Creating the Washington professional educator standards board.

Sponsors:  Senators McAuliffe, Eide, Loveland, Rasmussen, B. Sheldon and Winsley; by request of Governor Locke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  1/25/99, 3/3/99 [DPS-WM, DNPS].

Ways & Means:  3/5/99, 3/8/99 [DPS (EDU)].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5593 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Eide, Vice Chair; Bauer, Brown, Finkbeiner, Goings, Kohl‑Welles and Rasmussen.

Minority Report:  Do not pass substitute.

  Signed by Senators Benton, Hochstatter, Sellar, Swecker and Zarelli.

Staff:  Natalie Adams (786-7444)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5593 as recommended by Committee on Education be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Loveland, Chair; Bauer, Vice Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Fairley, Fraser, Kline, Kohl‑Welles, Rasmussen, B. Sheldon, Snyder, Spanel, Thibaudeau, Winsley and Wojahn.

Minority Report:  Do not pass substitute.

  Signed by Senators Honeyford, Roach, Rossi and Zarelli.

Staff:  Bill Freund (786-7441)

Background:  As part of its duties, the State Board of Education sets requirements for teachers, administrators, and educational staff associates in four major areas:  preparation; assessment; certification; and standards of practice.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Washington Professional Educator Standards Board is created as a self-governing board.

The Professional Educator Standards Board is comprised of 16 members representing all facets of the education profession.  Members are appointed by the Governor and serve staggered terms of four years, not to exceed a total of eight years.  Members may also be removed by the Governor.

Duties currently performed by the State Board of Education regarding teacher, educational staff associate and administrator preparation, assessment, certification and standards of practice are transferred to the new board.

The new board is held accountable through annual report requirements to the Governor and the Legislature.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The number of members of the Professional Educators Standards Board is increased to 16 members by adding a private school teacher and a parent.  A technical amendment corrects the name of an agency.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This bill would allow educators to regulate their own profession.  Other professions and educators in other states that regulate their own profession claim that self-regulation has led to higher standards.  Most states that provide self-regulating standards boards for educators are self-supporting.

Testimony Against:  This bill is not necessary because the State Board of Education already performs these duties.  No proof exists that the higher standards achieved by states allowing self-regulation are necessarily related to the professional standards boards in those states.  Creating this board as a self-supporting board would result in larger certification fees for individuals interested in joining the profession.

Testified:  Lorraine Wilson, Washington State School Directors Association (con); Susan Trimingham, Washington Advisory Council for Professional Teaching Standards (con); Jennifer Wallace, Governor's office (pro); Wolfgang Opitz, OFM (pro); Jody Butler, Washington Education Association (pro); Joe Pope, Principals Association (pro); Steve Mullin, Washington Round Table (pro); Bob Maier, Washington Education Association (pro); Ted Andrews, emeritus citizen (con); Kathleen Anderson, State Board of Education (con); Larry Davis, State Board of Education (con); Scott Menard, Washington School Personnel Association (con); Molly Ringo, Washington Association of School Administrators (con); Bob Butts, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (con); Lillian Cady, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (con).