BILL REQ. #:  H-4250.1 

Read first time 01/27/2004.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to the development of an educator information system; creating a new section; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that:
     (a) Teacher experience and education information is gathered and maintained on a district-by-district basis. This information is important for many reasons, particularly for funding and compensation determinations and certification and recertification. However, gathering and maintaining this information in the district in which the teacher is currently located results in duplication of records, additional administrative expenses, redundancy in audit efforts, and errors from teachers changing districts or limited staff resources. The office of superintendent of public instruction has studied means of gaining greater administrative efficiency and cost savings through a central repository of certified educator education and experience information.
     (b) Washington lacks adequate and reliable data on crucial elements related to educator quality, such as teaching assignment by either subject or student demographics, access to and effectiveness of current professional development opportunities, impact and effectiveness of teacher mentoring, and causal factors related to turnover and retention.
     (c) A central repository of teacher education and experience information alone would yield administrative efficiencies, but not adequate data on crucial elements related to educator quality to inform policymaking.
     (d) A comprehensive, integrated educator information system would help policymakers determine the effectiveness of educator quality-related policy initiatives and investments and inform future policy development.
     (2) The office of superintendent of public instruction and professional educator standards board shall convene a work group to study, and make recommendations for implementation of, a state educator information system. The study shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
     (a) Summary of the literature, research, and exemplary practice in other states reflecting the need for, and development of, an educator information system;
     (b) Long and short-term questions about the educator work force, teaching quality, and support for teachers' work that should drive the key data elements included in this system;
     (c) Whether teachers and students will benefit;
     (d) Whether a new system allows for innovative use of the internet and other information technology;
     (e) Considerations of ease of access and privacy;
     (f) Intended use of data;
     (g) System management and reporting;
     (h) Review of studies conducted on the feasibility, cost, and benefits of a central repository of educator certification data. This review shall include, but not be limited to, consideration of:
     (i) Whether increased accuracy is likely;
     (ii) Whether school districts can save administrative and training costs;
     (iii) Whether improved methods could be used to better ensure data reliability and integrity; and
     (iv) Whether audits can be done more efficiently;
     (i) Costs, benefits, and feasibility of an electronic certification system; and
     (j) An estimate of the cost of an educator information system and any savings that would be generated compared to the current methods of gathering and maintaining this information.
     (3) The work group shall include a broadly representative stakeholder group, including the state board of education, and other organizations and associations representing educators and higher education educator preparation programs at the discretion of the office of the superintendent of public instruction and professional educator standards board.
     (4) Staffing for the work group shall be provided by the office of the superintendent of public instruction and professional educator standards board.
     (5) The office of superintendent of public instruction shall gather related data as necessary to inform this study.
     (6) The study and recommendations for a comprehensive educator quality data system shall be provided to the education and fiscal committees of the legislature by November 1, 2004.
     (7) This section expires December 31, 2004.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.