HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2869
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Reported by House Committee On:
Education
Title: An act relating to bonuses for nationally certified teachers who become principals.
Brief Description: Extending the national board for professional teaching standards bonus to certificated principals.
Sponsors: Representatives Liias, Sullivan, Ericks, Williams, Loomis, Simpson, Ormsby, Miloscia, Hasegawa, Roberts and Lantz.
Brief History:
Education: 1/31/08, 2/5/08 [DPS].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Quall, Chair; Barlow, Vice Chair; Priest, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Haigh, Liias, Roach and Sullivan.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 1 member: Representative Santos.
Staff: Barbara McLain (786-7383).
Background:
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is a national, nonprofit
organization that has developed standards for highly accomplished teaching and a voluntary
system to certify teachers who meet those standards. There are also NBPTS certificates for
librarians and school counselors. The term of a certificate is 10 years and can be renewed.
Since 1999 state funding has been appropriated for a bonus for NBPTS-certified staff. In
2007 the Legislature provided in statute that certificated instructional staff who have attained
NBPTS certification will receive a bonus each year they maintain the certification. The
bonus is $5,000 in 2007-08 and increases annually by inflation.
As of December 2007, there were 1,803 NBPTS-certified instructional staff in Washington.
Principals are certificated administrative, rather than certificated instructional, staff.
Summary of Substitute Bill:
Certificated instructional staff who have attained NBPTS certification receive a bonus for
each year they are nationally certified, including if they later become certificated principals
and maintain the certification.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
It is clarified that individuals with NBPTS certification who become principals are eligible
for the bonus as long as they maintain the certification.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) It takes the entire education community to educate children. It is important to
have highly skilled and talented principals in order to be able to attract good teachers. If
these individuals deserved the bonus in recognition of their skills, they should continue to
receive it. This will eliminate a disincentive for our best and brightest to seek the
principalship. There are no incidents of turning around a failing school without leadership.
There is no better way to demonstrate the state's commitment to quality teaching then by
recognizing the importance of building leaders.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Liias, prime sponsor; Lucinda Young, Washington Education Association; and Jerry Bender and Bary Kipp, Association of Washington School Principals.