Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Education Committee

HB 2382

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 Summary of Bill

Requires the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board and the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) to develop and implement a statewide public awareness campaign designed to increase recruitment into teacher certification programs.
Requires the PESB-approved residency teacher preparation programs at institutions of higher education to submit a proposal to offer an alternate route program if they are not already a partner in an alternative route program.
Provides for professional development and mentor support to candidates in alternate route teacher certification programs.

Background:

Teacher Recruitment.

School districts are responsible for the development and implementation of their own recruitment programs.

Alternate Route Teacher Certification Programs.

Alternate route certification programs (ARCPs) are designed to fill subject matter or geographic need shortage areas by allowing professionals with work and life experience to segue into teaching through performance-based alternative certification routes. School districts, or districts in cooperation with an educational service district, work in partnership with higher education programs to offer ARCPs. The ARCPs are designed for classified staff and paraprofessionals, staff who hold a Bachelor of Arts degree from an accredited institution, individuals from outside the school system who have subject-matter expertise, and individuals teaching with conditional certificates.

The Beginning Educator Support Team Program.

The Beginning Educator Support Team (BEST) Program provides professional development and mentor support for beginning educators and educators on probation. Grant funding for the BEST Program is administered by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The program includes professional development for beginning educators and mentors, release time for beginning educators and mentors to work together, orientation or individualized assistance before the start of the school year, and program evaluation.

Summary of Bill:

Teacher Recruitment.

The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board and the PESB must work with appropriate public agencies, school and educational service districts, and other parties to develop and implement a statewide public awareness campaign designed to increase recruitment into teacher certification programs.

Alternate Route Teacher Certification Programs.

The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) must convene meetings between school districts that do not have an ARCP and the nearest institution of higher education with an approved PESB teacher preparation program in order to determine whether they can partner to apply to operate an ARCP.

By September 1, 2016, all PESB-approved residency teacher preparation programs at institutions of higher education must submit a proposal to the PESB to offer an ARCP if they are not currently a partner in an ARCP. If the proposal is accepted, the institution must offer the ARCP.

The Beginning Educator Support Team Program.

Candidates in alternate route teacher programs are offered professional development and mentor support through the BEST program. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall notify districts about the program and encourage them to apply for program funds.