SENATE BILL REPORT
2SHB 1028
As of March 9, 2021
Title: An act relating to evaluation and recommendation of candidates for residency teacher certification.
Brief Description: Concerning evaluation and recommendation of candidates for residency teacher certification.
Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Bergquist, McCaslin, Dolan, Stonier and Pollet).
Brief History: Passed House: 2/24/21, 96-0.
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 3/10/21.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Repeals requirements related to the evidence-based assessment of teaching effectiveness.
  • Requires Washington Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) approved teacher preparation programs to recommend for residency teacher certification each person who, during the 2019-20, 2020-21, or 2021-22 academic years, met all program requirements except for the completion of the evidence-based assessment of teaching effectiveness.
  • Prohibits the PESB from adopting rules requiring that candidates for residency teacher certification take or pass a uniform, statewide performance assessment of teaching effectiveness.
  • Requires the PESB to adopt the most recent teaching standards published by specified organizations.
  • Directs each approved teacher preparation program to publish and provide a list of program completion requirements to candidates prior to admission.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION
Staff: Benjamin Omdal (786-7442)
Background:

Teacher Certification Requirements.  Under state law, the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) is tasked with establishing rules for teacher certification, including requirements for teacher preparation programs.  Under rules set by PESB and state law, there are several pathways to becoming a certificated teacher, with the traditional route being enrollment in a teacher preparation program as part of a bachelor or master's degree program.  All individuals hoping to become certified teachers in Washington must meet assessment requirements.
 
Minimum Assessment Requirements.  Before receiving their initial—residency—teaching certificate, teacher certification candidates must achieve a minimum score on a uniform and externally administered professional-level certification assessment based on demonstrated teaching skill.  This assessment, more commonly known as the edTPA, is a national assessment that analyzes teaching candidates' planning, instruction, and knowledge through a submitted portfolio which is then graded by educators.
 
All teaching candidates completing PESB-approved teacher preparation programs have been required to successfully pass the edTPA since January 2014.  Candidates must also meet a minimum score on an assessment of subject knowledge to obtain an endorsement in that area.

 

Teacher Certification Standards.  The PESB is required by state law to adopt a set of articulated teacher knowledge, skill, and performance standards that are evidence-based, measurable, meaningful, and documented in high-quality research as being associated with improved student learning.  The learning standards must be calibrated for each level along the entire career continuum.  The PESB must, to the extent possible, incorporate social-emotional learning standards and cultural competency standards into these standards.

 

A PESB rule requires that PESB-approved teacher preparation programs ensure candidates demonstrate the most recently published model teaching standards by the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC).  The ten InTASC standards, published in 2013, relate to the learner, content, instructional practice, and professional responsibility.
Summary of Bill:

Recommendation for Residency Teacher Certification.  PESB-approved teacher preparation programs must recommend for residency teacher certification each person who, during the 2019-20, 2020-21, or 2021-22 academic years, met all statutory and program requirements except for the completion of the edTPA.  Programs must attempt to notify each person who meets these requirements.
 
PESB-approved teacher preparation programs may, upon request, recommend for residency teacher certification any person who was required to pass the edTPA as a prerequisite to residency teacher certification, provided the person met all other requirements in effect at the time of enrollment.
 
Repeal of Performance Assessment.  Requirements related to the edTPA, including the requirement that candidates for residency teacher certification pass the edTPA, are repealed.
 
The PESB may not adopt rules requiring candidates for residency teacher certification take or pass a uniform, statewide performance assessment of teaching effectiveness.
 
Teacher Certification Standards and Program Requirements.  For candidates recommended for residency teacher certification, PESB must adopt the most recent teaching standards published by a consortium of state and national education organizations dedicated to the reform of the preparation, licensing, and ongoing professional development of teachers since 1987.
 
The description of the measures all PESB-approved teacher preparation programs use to demonstrate how the program produces effective teachers is revised from "measures established in statute" to "multiple measures of the knowledge, skills, performance, and competencies."  Candidates for residency teacher certification meet or exceed competency standards prior to recommendation.
 
Each PESB-approved teacher preparation program must publish, and provide to candidates prior to admission, a list of program completion requirements.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.