HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5622

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Gaspard, Smitherman, Bauer and Bender; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction and State Board of Education)

Continuing the beginning teachers assistance program.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (21)

      Signed by Representatives Ebersole, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Appelwick, Betrozoff, Cole, Cooper, Fuhrman, Holland, Holm, P. King, Peery, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Rust, Schoon, L. Smith, Taylor, Todd, Valle and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7109)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments by Committee on Education.  (23)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Allen, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Grant, Grimm, Hine, Holland, McLean, McMullen, Nealey, Niemi, Peery, Sayan, Silver, L. Smith, H. Sommers, Sprenkle and B. Williams.

House Staff:      Janet Peterson (768-7143)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 16, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Beginning Teacher Assistance Program was established as a pilot program in 1985.  Eighty-nine beginning teacher/mentor teacher teams participated in the program during the 1985-86 school year; 703 teams are participating this current 1986-87 school year.  The report by the Superintendent of Public Instruction on the results of the program indicates it has been successful and includes a recommendation that the program be continued.  It is suggested that the program allow mentor teachers to work with experienced teachers.

SUMMARY:

The beginning teachers assistance program is continued. The program, which pairs beginning teachers with mentor teachers, provides continuing support to a beginning teacher both inside and outside the classroom.  Workshops shall be conducted for both mentor teachers and beginning teachers.  The mentor teacher shall be paid a stipend.  The mentor teacher shall also periodically report to the principal on the contents of the training sessions and other program activities.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall consult with representatives of educational organizations, associations, educational service districts, and institutions of higher education for purposes of improving communication, cooperation, and program review.  A report shall be made to the legislature on the results of the program no later than December 31, 1987.

Beginning in the 1988-89 school year, students entering a teacher preparation program must pass standardized tests used to demonstrate basic skills competency.  Passing shall be a score that is not less than the mean score for all students admitted to that institution during the prior school years.

The State Board of Education shall establish a uniform exit test for teacher certification candidates to be administered at the end of the teacher preparation program.  Passage of the test is a condition of receiving initial certification after January 1, 1991.

The State Board of Education shall also conduct a sample testing program to determine whether subject matter tests should be given to teacher certification candidates in endorsement areas.  This program shall be tried in a limited number of endorsement areas and limited number of teachers holding endorsements shall be tested.  The State Board of Education shall make recommendation to the legislature on the use of such tests by January 1, 1990.  Results of the sample testing program shall be made available to the legislature.

Fiscal Note:      Attached.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on June 15, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Education)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Bruce Mrkvicka, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Education)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Education)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  The pilot program begun during the 1985-87 biennium has been effective in helping beginning teachers.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Education)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.