HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1741
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. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
Higher Education
Title: An act relating to educator preparation data for use by the professional educator standards board.
Brief Description: Concerning educator preparation data for use by the professional educator standards board.
Sponsors: Representatives Slatter, Hargrove, Dolan, Stonier, Senn, Ortiz-Self, Jinkins, Tarleton, Pollet and Santos.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Higher Education: 2/8/17, 2/10/17 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Hansen, Chair; Pollet, Vice Chair; Holy, Ranking Minority Member; Van Werven, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Haler, Orwall, Sells, Stambaugh and Tarleton.
Staff: Megan Mulvihill (786-7304).
Background:
The Professional Educator Standards Board.
The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) is a 13-member board that establishes policies and requirements for educator preparation and certification. The PESB maintains data concerning educator preparation programs, including data on quality, educator certification, and educator employment trends and needs.
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 United States Department of Education (US DOE). 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. 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 it is no longer needed.
The educational agency, institution, state, or local educational authority agrees to these terms.
The Education Research and Data Center.
The Education Research and Data Center (ERDC), in the Office of Financial Management, compiles data about students as they move through school. The Office of Public Instruction collects data on kindergarten through twelfth grade student enrollment and outcomes, whereas the post secondary institutions collect data about their enrolled students. The ERDC receives the data from both of these sectors, in addition to early learning and workforce data, to create a longitudinal data system and contribute to cross-sector research.
Federal Teacher-Preparation Regulations.
The federal Higher Education Act (HEA) requires states and institutions of higher education that receive funds under the HEA to report annually on various characteristics of their teacher preparation programs. An institution that does not provide the required information in a timely or accurate manner may be fined.
In October 2016 the US DOE released teacher-preparation regulations that build on the HEA's annual reporting requirements. The final regulations define quality indicators that a state must use to assess the performance of its teacher preparation programs, including additional indicators of program inputs and outcomes, such as the ability of the program's graduates to produce gains in student learning. The final regulations link assessments to eligibility for the federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant program, which provides grants of up to $4,000 annually to eligible teacher preparation candidates who agree to serve full-time in high-need fields at low-income schools.
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Summary of Bill:
State-approved educator preparation programs are required to collect and provide data as required for approval by the PESB to the ERDC. The ERDC and the state-approved educator preparation programs must enter into data-sharing agreements to facilitate the transfer of data required by the PESB. The ERDC must hold, analyze, and make available for research and monitoring by the PESB the data on educator preparation.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) The PESB collects teacher preparation data, but it could be delivered in a better fashion. This bill would streamline access to the data and ensure it is accessible and secure. Having access to quality and consistent data would allow better tracking of teacher characteristics and the teacher shortage. Currently, there are 26 different teacher education programs in the state, and this would bring consistency to data collection by transferring the responsibility to the ERDC. The ERDC is the appropriate location as they have experience with data and can help with consistent definitions. The ERDC can keep the data confidential, secure, and help with research.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Slatter, prime sponsor; Justin Montermini, Professional Educators Standards Board; and Joyce Westgard, Washington Association for Colleges of Teacher Education.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.