Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Education Committee |
HB 1771
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. |
Brief Description: Confirming that the professional educator standards board is an authorized representative of the state educational agencies.
Sponsors: Representatives Gregory, Magendanz, Lytton, Muri and Pollet; by request of Professional Educator Standards Board.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/12/15
Staff: Megan Wargacki (786-7194).
Background:
Professional Educator Standards Board.
The purpose of the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB), a 13-member board, is to establish policies and requirements for the preparation and certification of educators. These policies must provide:
standards for competency in professional knowledge and practice in the areas of certification;
a foundation of skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to help students with diverse needs, abilities, cultural experiences, and learning styles;
knowledge of research-based practice; and
professional development throughout a career.
The PESB must also maintain data concerning educator preparation programs and their quality, educator certification, educator employment trends and needs, and other data deemed relevant by the board.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. The FERPA gives parents and eligible students (age of 18 and older, or attending post-secondary school) certain rights with respect to the student's education records:
Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records maintained by the school.
Parents or eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records that they believe to be inaccurate or misleading.
Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record.
The FERPA allows schools to disclose information from a student's education record, without consent, to certain parties or under certain conditions. A school may disclose information in a student's records, without consent, to authorized representatives of state and local educational authorities for audit or evaluation of federal or state supported education programs. However, reasonable methods must be used to ensure the information is:
used for authorized purposes only;
is protected from further disclosure or other uses; and
is destroyed when no longer needed.
A school may also disclose information in a student's records, without consent, to organizations conducting studies or research on behalf of educational agencies or institutions when:
The study is conducted so only representatives of the organization who have legitimate interests in the information can identify the student or parents.
The information is destroyed when no longer needed.
The educational agency or institution or the state or local educational authority agrees to these terms.
Summary of Bill:
The PESB is expressly named as an authorized representative of the state's educational agencies for the purpose of accessing and compiling student record data for research, monitoring, and evaluation purposes.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.