Brief Description: Relating to educator certification.

Sponsors: Representatives Hunter, Cox, Haigh, Talcott and Lantz.

Hearing Date: 2/28/05

Staff: Susan Morrissey (786-7111).

Background:

The State Board of Education (SBE) adopts rules for the certification of educators and educational administrators, with advice from the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB). The rules are then implemented by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

The board has adopted a two-tier certification system for new teachers. The first tier, which is granted upon completion of an approved college teacher preparation program that leads to a baccalaureate or graduate degree, is called a residency certificate. This certificate is valid for five years. The second tier certificate is now called a professional certificate. Beginning with September 1, 2000, all beginning teachers and most experienced teachers from out-of-state must earn the professional certificate within five years of obtaining a residency certificate. A two year extension may be granted if the candidate is making progress toward the professional certificate.

This process is very different from that of the previously required continuing certificate in many significant ways. The Professional Certificate is performance-based as opposed to earning 45 credits beyond the Bachelor's degree. It relies heavily on the production of school/classroom-based performance indicators that are evaluated by members of the teacher's professional growth team.

Professional growth team means a team comprised of the candidate, a colleague specified by the candidate, a college or university advisor, and a representative from the school district in which the candidate teaches.

During the interim, several legislators met with groups of teachers to discuss the new requirements. Although the process is working well for some candidates, for others the requirements have faced unresolved challenges that include wide variations in the quality, relevance, and cost of different certification programs.

Summary of Bill:

The PESB will review college preparation programs that lead to professional certification. The review will include required course work, links to school improvement and teacher professional growth plans, and program costs. The review will also include a survey of participants and, beginning in 2008, the impact on student achievement of educators who have obtained the certification. The PESB will report the results of its review on December 1, 2005 and December 1 of each odd-numbered year thereafter. The report will include the PESB's findings by institution, a summary of improvement plans, exemplary practices, and plans for agency assistance to college programs.

The responsibility for adopting rules is transferred from the SBE to the PESB for professional certification and for the approval of preparation programs leading to that certification. The rules will:

• Require professional certification no earlier than the 2006-07 school year or the fifth year following the candidate's receipt of a continuing contract.
• Permit maximum choice, promote portability, minimize paperwork, and link requirements to student learning and achievement.
• Allow teachers who began a professional certification program before June 30, 2005, to continue the program under the rules that were in place when the teacher began the program
• Permit out-of-state teachers with five or more years of recent teaching experience to begin teaching with a professional certificate if the teachers can show evidence that they engaged in professional development during their teaching careers. The out-of-state teachers may be required to take a class in or show evidence that they can teach to the state's essential academic learning requirements.
• Design and pilot a program that permits an educational service district to be the lead partner in a professional certification preparation program.
• Explore low cost or no cost program options, and options for lapsed certificates.
• Notify teachers and school districts six months before a certificate lapses.
• Implement an annual evaluation process for approved programs.

Differences between original and proposed substitute: the original was a title only bill.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.