FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 6052

C 410 L 03

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Changing alternative route teacher certification provisions.

Sponsors: Senators Johnson and Rossi; by request of Office of Financial Management.

Senate Committee on Education

House Committee on Appropriations

Background: In 2001, the Legislature created a statewide Partnership Grant program and the Alternative Route Conditional Scholarship program to support three alternative routes for teacher certification. Each route focuses on increasing the number of teachers in shortage and high need areas due to subject matter or geographic location. Routes one and two are available to individuals currently employed by a school district. Route three certification is available to people who are not employed by the school district but who have a bachelor's degree.

Funds, to the extent appropriated, are provided through the Partnership Grant program to participating districts that apply. Funds are to be used to assist the school district in partnering with higher education teacher preparation programs. The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB), with support from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) selects the districts that shall receive the funds and a list of factors to be considered is included in statute. The majority of the education for individuals participating in the program is intended to take place in a K-12 classroom under the direction of a mentor teacher, with higher education helping to fill in the gaps. Both the participants and the mentor teacher are eligible to receive a stipend paid for from the Partnership Grant program funds. Participants that are in the program for a full year are eligible for a stipend of at least 80 percent of a beginning teacher's salary (about $22,600).

The Conditional Scholarship program is administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) and is subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this specific purpose. Participation in the Conditional Scholarship program is limited to route one and route two participants and selection is made by the PESB. The total scholarship amount available to each recipient annually is $4,000.

Summary: To the extent funds are appropriated, districts may apply for program funds through the Partnership Grant program for stipends for mentors only. The mentor's stipend amount is limited to $500 per intern under the direction of the mentor. The list of factors the PESB and OSPI are to use in considering which district proposals to approve for partnership grants is clarified to be non-exclusive.

Conditional scholarships are made available to all program participants, including route three, and the total scholarship amount available is increased to $8,000.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       47  0

House       97  0    (House amended)

Senate       49  0    (Senate concurred)

Effective: July 27, 2003