HB 3061 - DIGEST

Finds that: (1) 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.

(2) 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.

(3) 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.

(4) 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.

Requires the office of superintendent of public instruction and professional educator standards board to convene a work group to study, and make recommendations for implementation of, a state educator information system.