HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5266

BYSenate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Gaspard, Bailey, Rinehart, Lee, Fleming, Johnson, Anderson, Kreidler, Benitz, Talmadge and Bauer)

Providing baccalaureate and masters degree equivalencies for certification of vocational instructors.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass (15)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle, Cole, Dorn, Fuhrman, Jones, P. King, Phillips,  Rasmussen, Rayburn, Schoon, Valle, Walker and K. Wilson.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 4, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Current standards for certification of vocational instructors are provided by State Board of Education and Superintendent of Public Instruction rules.  Individuals who enter vocational education as instructors after a number of years in business or industry are able to attain certification based on that experience provided additional requirements are also met.

In 1987 the Legislature passed an act requiring the State Board of Education to adopt rules providing that all individuals qualifying for an initial-level teaching certificate possess a baccalaureate degree in the arts, sciences, and/or humanities for certification after August 31, 1992.  The state board is also required to implement rules providing that after August 31, 1992, all applicant teachers for professional level (continuing) certification hold a masters degree in teaching, or in the arts, sciences, and/or humanities.

SUMMARY:

The State Board of Education is required to develop and adopt rules establishing baccalaureate and masters degree equivalency standards for certification of vocational instructors and professional level vocational instructors who begin teaching after August 31, 1992.

Fiscal Note:      No Impact.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Kathleen Preston, Washington Vocational Association; Jim Taylor, Washington Association of Vocational Administrators; Bill Olfert, Council on Vocational Education; Tim Strege, Council of Vocational Technical Institutes; Jan Carlson, Superintendent of Public Instruction.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Vocational education allows individuals with real work experience to teach these skills to students in our vocational programs.  While there are some teachers with an educational background combined with actual work experience, most of the teachers come from years of actual work experience.  It is important that the valuable individuals be allowed to make the valuable contribution to our students.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.