Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Education Committee |
HB 1867
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: Concerning the frequency of evaluations for certain classroom teachers.
Sponsors: Representatives Bergquist, Orwall, Pollet, S. Hunt and Tarleton.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/18/16
Staff: Megan Wargacki (786-7194).
Background:
Teacher Certifications.
Washington has two levels of certification for classroom teachers. The first tier is the Residency Certification, which is achieved after completion of an approved preparation program and passage of basic skills and content knowledge tests. Teachers have up to seven years to obtain a second tier certificate, called the Professional Certification. This certification process requires a minimum of three years of experience, demonstration of positive impact on student learning, and a specified process of additional professional development.
National Board Certification is a voluntary advanced teaching credential that is valid in Washington for 10 years. A teacher can only apply for this rigorous certification after attaining three years of experience. Washington offers a monetary bonus to eligible K-12 public school teachers who become National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs). With over 6,000 NBCTs, Washington has the fourth largest group of NBCTs in the nation.
Teacher and Principal Evaluation System.
Legislation adopted in 2010 (i.e. E2SSB 6696, enacted as ch. 235 Laws of 2010) and in 2012 (i.e. ESSB 5895, enacted as ch. 35 Laws of 2012) required development and implementation of new classroom teacher and principal four-level rating evaluation systems with eight specified minimum criteria. The four-levels are unsatisfactory, basic, proficient, or distinguished. Teachers and principals receive a performance rating for each criteria and an overall rating for the entire evaluation, called the comprehensive summative evaluation performance rating. The 2015-16 school year is the first year that this evaluation system is in use statewide.
All teachers and principals must be evaluated each year. Every four years, the evaluation must be comprehensive and use all eight criteria. In the intervening years, evaluations are focused, zeroing in on a specific evaluation criterion for professional development.
Annual comprehensive summative evaluations must be given in the following cases:
new teachers and principals in the first three years of employment;
new principals in the first year of employment, if previously employed as a principal by another district in Washington for three or more consecutive school years; and
teachers or principals receiving a Level 1 or Level 2 rating in the previous year.
Summary of Bill:
Classroom teachers with Professional Certification, and NBCTs, who received a Level 3 or Level 4 rating on their last comprehensive summative evaluation must receive a comprehensive summative evaluation, at a minimum, every four years or six years, respectively. These teachers are required to complete a focused evaluation at least every second year or third year, respectively, unless a comprehensive summative evaluation is used that year instead.
In the intervening years, these teachers may, at the principal's discretion, be evaluated using a short form of evaluation, a locally bargained professional growth evaluation, an old or revised long form evaluation, or any combination thereof, rather than the focused evaluation.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.