SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1765

BYHouse Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Hine, G. Fisher, Peery, Betrozoff, Holland, Heavey, Valle, Cole, Dellwo, Pruitt, Cantwell, Todd and Spanel)

Establishing the professional educator renewal program.

House Committe on Education

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 20, 1990; February 21, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Lee, Vice Chairman; Bender, Benitz, Fleming, Gaspard, Murray, Rinehart.

Senate Staff:Susan Mosborg (786-7439)

                  February 23, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 21, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Since 1985, legislatures throughout the nation have placed emphasis on toughening the standards for entrance to teacher preparation programs and for earning a professional certificate.  Scholarships have been made available to individuals entering the teaching profession or seeking a professional certificate.  Little attention has been paid to the needs of career teachers who have earned their professional certificate and have provided a number of years of service to the teaching profession.

SUMMARY:

Fees charged for teacher certification are increased by $10.  The fee increase will be used to fund the professional education renewal program, which will provide grants to sabbatical leave programs for certificated instructional staff in selected school districts.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction will develop rules for the implementation of the program.

School districts applying for the grants must submit a written application to the Superintendent of Public Instruction by July 1 of the year in which grant funds are available.  The application must identify the teachers who have been selected, rank the candidates, and describe the procedure used for candidate selection.  The district may select no more than two candidates. The Superintendent of Public Instruction must select and notify grant recipients no later than November 1 of that year.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction may allocate state funds under this section only to districts that agree to provide, during the sabattical school year, at least 51 percent of the selected staff members' actual salary for the current school year.  If the district provides this assurance, the state will provide 49 percent of the selected staff members' actual salary for the current school year.  The money will be distributed to the selected staff members during the school year of the sabattical.

The money generated by the certification fee increase will be deposited in a sabbatical leave fund established in the custody of the State Treasurer.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall deposit an amount equal to the funds generated by the certification fee in the prior year.  Funds shall be solicited from the private sector in addition to any appropriated funds.  If the donations and appropriation do not equal the funds raised by the certification fee, the funds may not be spent in that year.  A determination on availability of funds shall be made on July 1 of each year beginning July 1, 1990.

Certification fees not represented by the fee increase will continue to be used for professional preparation, program evaluation and professional in-service training programs authorized by the State Board of Education. 

The fee increase takes effect July 1, 1990.  No funds will be allotted from the fund prior to July 1, 1990.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: FOR:  Representative Hine, prime sponsor; Judy Hartmann, Washington Education Association