SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5479

BYSenators Gaspard, Bauer, Bender, Williams, Talmadge, DeJarnatt, Wojahn and Smitherman; by request of Office of the Governor

Providing for the improvement of teachers and schools.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 3, 1987; February 16, 1987; February 19, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5479 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Gaspard, Chairman; Bauer, Vice Chairman; Rinehart, Vice Chairman; Bender, Smitherman, Warnke.

Senate Staff:Larry Davis (786-7422)

                  February 24, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 19, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Recent national studies include recommendations to require teachers to hold a master's degree as one way in which to enhance the status of teaching as a professional field.  Current state law or State Board of Education rules do not provide for such a requirement.

Available research and the results of the state's grant program for school-based management projects indicate that such projects can positively impact school programs.  It is suggested that the concept of school-based management might be enhanced by providing waivers of state laws or regulations to facilitate new and innovative restructuring of school systems and programs.

The state In-Service Training Act does not require districts' needs assessments to include building-level plans.

SUMMARY:

The 21st century pilot program is established to allow selected schools to restructure certain school operations in order to:  improve the learning climate for students; improve students' performance; hold participating schools and staff accountable for student progress; and relate teacher incentives to school-wide student performance.  Subject to state fund appropriations, projects selected for the pilot program may operate up to six years.

A board for the pilot program is established to select projects for grant funding and to administer, monitor, and evaluate the program.  The seven-member board shall consist of the governor and three members appointed by the governor, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction and two members appointed by the Superintendent.  The Governor and the SPI shall serve as co-chairs.

The board shall select not more than 20 school projects per biennium including schools which have and have not completed a self-study process in the last three years.  At least one small school district may be selected as a pilot project.  No district may receive funding for more than one school pilot project.

Initial applications from schools to participate in the program must be submitted to the board by December 31, 1987.  Applications shall contain a proposed plan which must include: provision for certificated staff to be employed on supplemental contracts with compensation for a minimum of ten days beyond the state-funded 180 day school year and staff development time; identification of the evaluation and accountability processes used in measuring student performance, which will be used to implement a staff incentive pay system for the pilot project; and justification for each request for a waiver of specific state rules.

The proposed plan must include statements:  that school directors and administrators are willing to waive specifically identified local rules; that the school directors and the local bargaining units will modify applicable portions of their local agreements; that the board of directors, the local superintendent, and the building principal and faculty request the school be a pilot project.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction will distribute award grants and is authorized to adopt rules for distribution of funds and to implement any waiver(s) of rules requested of the State Board of Education by the board for the 21st century schools pilot program.

The State Board of Education is authorized but not required to grant waivers requested by the board for the 21st century schools pilot program for schools participating in the pilot program.  The state board shall adopt criteria to evaluate the need for the waiver or waivers.

State rules dealing with public health, safety and civil rights shall not be waived for purposes of the pilot program.  A district may request the board of the pilot program to request the U.S. Department of Education to waive federal regulations.

The pilot program board is directed to ensure that resource and special support assistance will be provided to schools selected to participate.  The board shall develop a process that coordinates linkages among participating school districts and colleges and universities.  Priority consideration is given for staff participation in state sponsored staff development programs and summer institutes.

The SPI shall award grant funds by March 1, 1988 and the initial pilot school projects begins during the 1988-89 school year.  The pilot program board shall report to the Legislature on the progress of the program by January 15 of each odd-numbered year, with the first report due January 15, 1989.

The Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB), the State Board of Education (SBE) and the SPI are directed to cooperate in the planning for the development of graduate-level professional teacher preparation programs leading to a master in teaching degree.  Such programs require, after September 1, 1990, that persons applying to a master in teaching degree program have completed an undergraduate degree in the arts, humanities, or sciences.

The graduate-level programs establish specific entrance and course requirements for persons who hold a post-baccalaureate degree, and provide a fulltime, paid internship of one school year for all candidates in a master in teaching degree preparation program.  Candidates interning at public schools receive payment equivalent to 50 percent of the average entrance level salary for a beginning teacher with a masters degree.

Candidates serving internships are supervised by a mentor teacher, a mentor principal, and a faculty member from the candidate's higher education institution.  Cooperative agreements between schools or school districts and higher education institutions are required.

Program agreements established by higher education institutions include procedures for the selection and evaluation of mentor teachers and mentor principals, including the provision of training and supporting resources.  Public school mentor teachers and principals are provided stipends as funds are appropriated.

The HEC Board, the SBE, and the SPI will work with higher education institutions offering principal preparation programs to change management training practices and develop recommendations for:  procedures to select persons to attend principal preparation programs, including selections which reflect the racial, ethnic and gender composition of the school population; provisions for a funded internship for principal candidates; release time for principal interns equivalent to not less than one academic semester from normal duties; and establishment of mentor principals and higher education faculty supervision.

After September 1, 1992, State Board of Education teacher certification policies, procedures and standards shall include:  persons applying for initial certification shall have completed a recognized graduate level teacher preparation program; and monitoring the development of studies for establishing a national teacher assessment and certification process.

The Higher Education Coordinating Board is to develop a planning implementation schedule for the professional teacher preparation degree program.  The HEC Board and the SBE will establish agreements with independent higher education institutions to develop graduate-level teacher preparation programs and improved principal preparation programs.  The HEC Board will contract with public or independent colleges and universities for the development of teacher preparation programs.

The HEC Board is to report to the Governor on specific implementation plans for the revised graduate-level teacher preparation programs and principal preparation programs by February 1, 1988, for review and comment, and presentation to the Legislature.

The State Board of Education will report to the Governor and Legislature, by February 1, 1988, on the Board's plan for incorporating the new qualifications for teacher certification with its current teacher certification standards, policies and procedures.

The SBE and the HEC Board will develop recommended legislation for programs to enhance the master in teaching degree program.  Such recommendations shall include:  graduate scholarships for master in teaching degree candidates; and undergraduate work study programs for persons intending to enter a master in teaching program.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall advise the Governor and the Legislature, beginning in the 1991-92 school year, on the estimated number of funded teacher internships to meet state needs.

The state In-Service Training Act of 1977 is amended to include building-level staff development plans as part of the district's needs assessment required every two years if the district applies for state funds available for distribution under the In-Service Training Act.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

PART I-A -- SCHOOLS FOR THE 21st CENTURY

The State Board of Education, rather than a board for the 21st century pilot schools program, shall develop the pilot program which shall be administered by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The Governor shall appoint an advisory task force to assist the State Board with the development of criteria governing grant application procedures, reviewing applications and selecting projects for grant awards, and monitoring and evaluating the pilot program.  The Governor shall determine the size and composition of the task force.  The task force shall terminate on June 30, 1988.

Pilot projects may receive initial funding for up to six years rather than just for two years.  Annual reporting requirements are included for each participating district.  The reports must be submitted as a condition to receiving continued funding.

Language is added to clarify that grant applications must be submitted by the local district board of directors, the initial application must be submitted by March 31, 1988 rather than by December 31, 1987; classified staff whose primary duties are the daily instruction of students may expressly participate in a pilot project; districts may use local levy dollars to pay staff for days in excess of 190 days for the purposes of the pilot project; and educational service districts are included as possible providers of technical assistance.

At least one entire district rather than just one small district may be selected by the State Board to participate in the pilot program.  The requirement that no district may receive funding for more than one project is deleted.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction is directed to distribute the initial grants by July 2, 1988 rather than by March 1, 1988.

The State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction are authorized to grant waivers from specific provisions of statutes or administrative rules rather than being authorized to grant waivers from any provision of the common school statute (chapter 28A RCW).

The SPI is authorized to accept gifts, grants, and contributions as may be provided for the express support of the schools for the 21st century pilot program.

Language is added to clarify that staff in participating districts shall be given priority consideration for participation in state sponsored staff development programs which are directly related to the goals of the selected pilot projects.  Districts may request the SPI or the State Board to request other federal agencies, in addition to the U.S. Department of Education, for waivers from certain federal regulations.

PART I-B -- PRIMARY BLOCK EDUCATION PROGRAMS

The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) is required to develop a model plan for providing support and technical assistance to school districts to develop and implement programs in primary block education in grades kindergarten through three (K-3).

The Superintendent of Public Instruction is authorized to establish a program to award grants to school districts for pilot primary block education programs.  If the SPI establishes a grant program, SPI must adopt rules establishing evaluative criteria for selecting pilot programs from grant applications and for awarding grants.  The SPI is authorized to appoint an advisory committee to assist in establishing the criteria for the grant program.

School districts are required to submit grant applications to the SPI not later than May 1 of each year the grant program is in existence.  Grant applications must be reviewed not later than May 20 of each year the grant program is in existence.  The SPI is directed to award grants to selected districts not later than July 1 of each year the grant program is in existence.

The SPI is authorized to receive and administer any gifts, grants and contributions from public or private sources as may be provided for the grant program.  Such gifts and grants must be placed into a special revolving fund.

The SPI is required to report biennially to the Legislature on the achievement of students who participate in pilot primary block education programs the grant program.

PART II -- TEACHING AS A PROFESSION

The State Board of Education and the Higher Education Coordinating Board are directed to work cooperatively in developing the standards for a Masters of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree program.  After August 31, 1993, a MAT degree, or a masters in a liberal arts or science subject, shall be required for continuing certification, rather than a MAT degree being required for initial certification after September 1, 1992.

The State Board is directed to develop standards for a teacher internship program, rather than require a one-year paid internship a, part of the MAT degree program, and to develop standards for initial certification for persons who enter teaching from other fields.

The SPI is required to establish an administrators academy and an academy advisory committee.  The academy shall focus on methods of developing and refining the administrative and leadership skills of school administrators.  The Superintendent must submit to the Legislature by January 1989, a report on the implementation and progress of the administrators academy.

The State Board is required to adopt new rules for the certification of principals which must include the following requirements:  After August 31, 1993, in order to obtain an initial level principal certificate, a candidate must hold a continuing level teacher or educational staff associate certificate; and to obtain a continuing level principal certificate a candidate must complete a course of study through the administrators academy or through other training program offered by specialized or general professional association and which is approved or endorsed by the SPI.

A new section is added to encourage school districts and higher education institutions to establish cooperative working arrangements, including faculty exchanges.

A number of sections are deleted which relate to the proposal requiring a MAT degree for initial certification.

PART III -- STAFF DEVELOPMENT

The SPI is directed to appoint a temporary task force to identify state and local district requirements on teachers to complete various forms.  After such identification the SPI shall recommend to districts ways in which local reporting requirements might be combined and streamlined, and shall develop ways in which state reporting requirements might be combined and streamlined.

The June 27, 1987 sunset date for the state grant program for school-based management pilot projects is repealed.

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Ronn Robinson, Office of the Governor; Dr. Frank Brouillet, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Dr. Monica Schmidt, Executive Director, and Harry Peterson, Member, State Board of Education; Dr. Stephen Lilly, Dean, School of Education, Washington State University; Howard Coble, Washington Association of School Administrators; Dr. John Gott, Superintendent, North Thurston School District; Dr. James Worthington, Washington Council of Deans and Directors of Education; LaVaun Dennett, Principal, Montlake Elementary, Seattle School District