SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESSB 6462

              As Passed Senate, February 14, 2000

Title:  An act relating to salary bonuses for teachers attaining certification by the national board for professional teaching standards.

Brief Description:  Providing a salary bonus for teachers receiving national board for professional teaching standards certification.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators McAuliffe, Kohl‑Welles, Eide, Brown, Rasmussen, Bauer, Goings, Patterson, Winsley and Jacobsen; by request of Governor Locke).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  1/24/2000, 2/2/2000 [DPS-WM].

Ways & Means:  2/7/2000, 2/8/2000 [DPS (EDU)].

Passed Senate, 2/14/2000, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6462 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, Benton, Brown, Goings, Kohl-Welles, Rasmussen and Swecker.

Staff:  Kelly Simpson (786-7403)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6462 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, Honeyford, Kline, Kohl-Welles, Long, McDonald, Rasmussen, Roach, Rossi, B. Sheldon, Snyder, Spanel, West and Winsley.

Staff:  Bill Freund (786-7441)

Background:  In the general operating budget for the current biennium, $327,000 was appropriated for a 15 percent salary bonus for teachers who have attained certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).  The Superintendent of Public Instruction was required to establish a competitive selection process for teachers desiring to enroll in the NBPTS program after September 1, 1999.  Funds were provided for a maximum of 45 bonuses for the 2000-2001 school year.

  Currently, NBPTS certification is valid for ten years.

Summary of Bill:  In addition to their standard salary, teachers who have attained NBPTS certification must receive a bonus, to the extent funded by the Legislature.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For (Education):  The NBPTS program is very demanding.  Once certified, teachers are better professionals and bring their higher standards and advanced training into the classroom.  This bill would attract quality teacher candidates and encourage current teachers to stay in the profession.

Testimony Against (Education):  None.

Testified (Education):  PRO:  Jann Bjorklund, Washington Speech and Hearing Association; Anna M. McCourt, Cindy L. Johnson, Jenny Holmstrom, Patty Raichle, WEA; Jennifer Wallace, Governor=s Office; Ken Kanikeberg, OSPI.

Testimony For (Ways & Means):  Teachers should be rewarded for making the investment of time and money to achieve national certification and it should be significant and stable.  CONCERNS:  There is no guideline in the bill as to what will be the value of attaining national certification.

Testimony Against (Ways & Means):  None.

Testified (Ways & Means):  Jim Crawford, OFM (pro); Ken Kanikeberg, OSPI (pro w/concerns); Karen Davis, WEA (pro w/concerns).