Title: An act relating to mathematics and science teachers.

Brief Description: Regarding mathematics and science teachers.

Sponsors: House Committee on App Subcom Ed (originally sponsored by Representatives Sullivan, Haler, Kelley and Ormsby).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/19/08, 95-0.

Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 2/25/08, 2/28/08 [DP-WM].

Ways & Means: 3/3/08 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Tom, Vice Chair; King, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Hobbs, Holmquist, McDermott, Oemig and Rasmussen.

Staff: Kimberly Cushing (786-7421)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Pridemore, Vice Chair, Operating Budget; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Carrell, Fairley, Hatfield, Hobbs, Honeyford, Keiser, Kohl-Welles, Parlette, Rasmussen, Regala, Roach, Rockefeller, Schoesler and Tom.

Staff: Bryon Moore (786-7726)

Background: In 2005 the Washington Legislature transferred authority for educator preparation and certification from the State Board of Education to the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB). PESB has identified science and mathematics as teaching shortage areas for 2007-09.
Currently, Washington has several programs to recruit teachers. The Alternative Routes Conditional Scholarship Program is a program for districts, or districts in cooperation with educational service districts, to operate partnerships with higher education teacher preparation programs to provide alternative routes for individuals, without a teaching certificate, to teach in statewide subject matter/geographic shortage areas. The Pipeline for Paraeducators Conditional Scholarship Program is for individuals without a college degree who have at least three years of classroom experience. The Retooling Program is for individuals who have an elementary teaching certificate. A conditional scholarship is awarded for educational expenses leading to an endorsement in a shortage area.

The Future Teachers Conditional Scholarship and Loan Repayment Program is designed to encourage outstanding students and paraprofessionals to become teachers, and encourage current teachers to obtain additional endorsements in teacher shortage subjects. The Recruiting Washington Teachers Program is established to recruit and provide training and support for high school students to enter the teaching profession, especially in teacher shortage areas and among underrepresented groups and multilingual, multicultural students.

The Washington Legislature created the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) in 1983 to carry out nonpartisan research at legislative direction. The Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession (CSTP) is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides nonpartisan information about the teaching force in Washington.

Summary of Bill: By September 15, 2008, PESB must submit a report with recommendations for strengthening the state's corps of K-12 mathematics and science teachers to the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), and the Legislature. The report must quantify the demand by detailing the number of K-12 math and science teachers needed statewide and regionally by the 2010-11 school year; specify how the demand will be met by the 2010-11 school year; and specify strategies for improving the retention of math and science teachers and increasing their classroom effectiveness.

PESB's analysis and recommendations must take into account the increased K-12 graduation requirements and the revised math and science standards and recommended curricula. In preparing the report, PESB must seek assistance from CSTP and other stakeholders, and consider the role of a public-private partnership to meet the demand for math and science teachers, and in improving the quality of instruction in these subject areas.

PESB must conduct a study of differential pay for teachers in high-demand subject areas, such as math and science. PESB may collaborate with WSIPP or contract with a third party to conduct the study. PESB must report its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the SPI, the Legislature, and the Basic Education Finance Task Force by September 1, 2008. Additionally, PESB must survey current math and science teachers to identify barriers to teaching math and science in Washington.

PESB must convene the organizations that administer education recruitment programs and develop a collaborative statewide plan for educator recruitment by September 15, 2008.

A null and void clause is included.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Engrossed Second Substitute Bill (Early Learning & K-12 Education): PRO: Increasing teacher quality is the best way to increase student outcomes. Marketing and recruitment of teachers is important. We should do this work now, while reviewing the math standards, credits, and basic education funding formula. Educator preparation programs must meet whatever standards are set. It is important to look at different funding options. PESB will not be able to do the work without funding.

OTHER: The differential pay study must include how the functions of our state might impact such pay. We need more math teachers, and we don't need a study to show this. We need to get teachers moving into the math and science field.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Nasue Nishida, PESB; Laura Bay, Washington State PTA; Bob Cooper, Washington Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; Amy Bell, Washington Roundtable.

OTHER: Lucinda Young, Washington Education Association; Barbara Mertens, Washington Association of School Administrators.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Engrossed Second Substitute Bill (Ways & Means): PRO: This addresses important issues about attracting and retaining teachers into the math and science field. This bill is part of increasing teacher quality which ultimately will improve students' outcomes.

Persons Testifying (Ways and Means): PRO: Amy Bell, Washington Roundtable.