BILL REQ. #:  H-2890.1 

Read first time 01/23/14.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to the Washington research institute for teaching excellence; adding new sections to chapter 28B.35 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.77 RCW; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that teaching is the most important state-funded variable in student achievement and that identifying and replicating excellent teaching practices will greatly improve student achievement.
     (2) The legislature finds that research on effective teaching practices is limited. An institute dedicated to researching effective teaching practices would assist policymakers to make evidence-based decisions that improve the effectiveness of teachers and student success.
     (3) The legislature intends to create an institute for the purpose of researching effective teaching practices and considers the appropriate home to be Washington State University, as the institution of higher education with the largest college of education.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28B.35 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The Washington research institute for teaching excellence is created, and shall be hosted by Washington State University.
     (2) The mission of the institute is to conduct research on teaching to inform policy decisions related to teaching and to improve the practice of teaching in K-12 and higher education, including teacher preparation. The institute must:
     (a) Conduct research on teacher effectiveness including a focus on individualized instruction, the diverse cultural, social, and economic background of learners, and variations in regional needs;
     (b) Identify and disseminate best practices in teaching for replication or adaption; and
     (c) Provide information to policymakers on strategies to improve teaching practices.
     (3) The institute must report to the education and higher education committees of the legislature biannually on research conducted and the status of research partnerships with other state agencies.
     (4) For the purposes of this section, "best practices in teaching" means methods of education practice that show direct evidence of improved student performance. A best practice may be identified in the following areas:
     (a) Instructional pedagogy;
     (b) Class size;
     (c) Teacher supports;
     (d) Team teaching;
     (e) A system of organizational strategies such as lab schools, charter schools, and online and other distance learning or alternative approaches to delivering instruction; and
     (f) Other novel approaches to improve student performance.
     (5)(a) The institute must seek grants from federal and private sources to conduct research related to teaching effectiveness, best practices in teaching, excellence in teacher preparation, and continuing education, with the aim of becoming primarily supported through nonstate funds.
     (b) The institute must place a priority on seeking grants that would fund fellowships lasting three to twelve months in length for researchers in the doctoral program at the college of education at Washington State University and provide credit towards the doctoral programs.
     (6) Procedures developed for obtaining student records for the purposes of the institute's research must be in compliance with the family educational and privacy rights act of 1974, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g.
     (7) The following state agencies are required to assist the institute in achieving its mission by providing staff expertise, data, and research: The education data center in the office of financial management, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the professional educator standards board, the state board of education, the state board for community and technical colleges, the student achievement council, and the workforce training and education coordinating board.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 28B.35 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The Washington research institute for teaching excellence shall be administered by a director appointed by the dean of the college of education at Washington State University and approved by the governing board established under subsection (2) of this section. The director shall oversee the operations of the institute and employ staff, as necessary, to perform the duties and functions of the institute.
     (2) The institute's director and staff shall be guided by a governing board composed of representatives of an organization that represents the colleges of education in the state.
     (3) The student achievement council in chapter 28B.77 RCW shall conduct research in partnership with the institute to assist in fulfilling the institute's mission and shall provide staff expertise, data, and research for this purpose.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 28B.77 RCW to read as follows:
     The student achievement council shall provide staff expertise, data, and research to the Washington research institute for teaching excellence created in section 2 of this act in partnership with staff of Washington State University to support the mission, duties, and functions of the institute.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   If specific funding for the purposes of sections 3 and 4 of this act, referencing sections 3 and 4 of this act by bill or chapter number and section numbers, is not provided by June 30, 2014, in the omnibus appropriations act, sections 3 and 4 of this act are null and void.