HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2495

BYRepresentatives H. Myers, Peery, G. Fisher, Brough, Phillips, Jacobsen and P. King 

Creating a uniform entry to practice assessment for teacher certification candidates.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (17)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle, Cole, Dorn, Fuhrman, Holland, Horn, Jones, P. King, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Schoon, Valle and Walker.

House Staff:Bob Butts (786-7841)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 13, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The 1987 Legislature adopted a requirement that students applying for teacher certification pass an examination.  Effective August 31, 1993, candidates completing a teacher education program shall be required to pass the examination before being granted an initial teaching certificate.  The exam shall test, at a minimum,  knowledge and competency in instructional skills, classroom management, and student behavior and development.  The test is to consist primarily of essay questions.

In response to the examination requirement, a committee of representatives from college and university teacher education programs and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has been meeting to develop the examination.

In addition to essay questions, recent research in teacher testing and experience from other states suggests that other testing methods, such as interactive video and computer simulations, may be very useful in evaluating teacher candidates.

SUMMARY:

The existing requirement that, effective August 31, 1993, teacher certificate candidates must pass an exit examination prior to receiving an initial certificate, is amended.

Instead of passing an "exit examination" teacher certificate candidates must meet "assessment criteria" in an "entry to practice assessment."  The assessment criteria shall consist of the same subjects that are currently to be tested.

An existing requirement that the examination consist primarily of essay questions is deleted.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 12, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Dr. Carol Hosman, Washington Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; Dr. Steve Lilly, Washington State University.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Dr. Ted Andrews, Superintendent of Public Instruction.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The current requirement that exams be limited to essay questions does not allow enough flexibility when assessing prospective teachers.  Other types of evaluation methods should be allowed.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      Requirements for the testing of professional educators should be established by the State Board of Education, not the Legislature.  In addition, all certificated personnel should be tested, not just teachers.