Title: An act Relating to bonuses for nationally certified teachers who become principals or superintendents.

Brief Description: Regarding bonuses for nationally certified teachers who become principals or superintendents.

Sponsors: Senators Tom and McAuliffe.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 2/6/08, 2/7/08 [DP-WM].

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, Eide, Hobbs, Holmquist, Kauffman, McDermott, Rasmussen, Weinstein and Zarelli.

Staff: Kimberly Cushing (786-7421)

Background: The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is a nonprofit organization comprised of teachers and other people interested in education. To be eligible for certification, the applicant must hold a bachelor's degree, have completed three full years of teaching/counseling experience, and possess a valid state teaching/counseling license. A NBPTS certificate is valid for ten years and may be renewed for additional ten-year periods by providing evidence that the teacher continues to meet the NBPTS standards.

In 2007 the Washington Legislature provided in statute that certificated instructional staff who have attained NBPTS certification will receive a $5,000 bonus each year they maintain the certification. The annual bonus increases by inflation. An additional bonus of $5,000 is available for individuals with NBPTS certification, who teach in a high poverty school, based on the school having over 70 percent of the students eligible for free or reduced price lunch.

Currently Washington has 1,807 NBPTS-certified teachers.

Summary of Bill: Certificated instructional staff who have attained certification from the NBPTS receive a bonus for each year they maintain national certification even if they become certificated principals, or become a superintendent.

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: PRO: We want the best and brightest teachers to be principals, because principals are the instructional coach for the school. In some cases teachers may have to take a pay cut to become administrators; thus, this will help stem the loss of talented leaders. In addition, it will keep the best teachers in the classroom, because teachers are most likely to leave because of lack of leadership. It may be difficult for a principal to renew a NBPTS certificate unless they can work in the classroom at least one period a day.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Tom, prime sponsor; Jerry Bender, Association of Washington School Principals; and Lucinda Young, Washington Education Association.