SENATE BILL REPORT

ESHB 2533

BYHouse Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Jacobsen, Van Luven, Heavey, Ballard, Hine, Miller, Peery, Cooper, Betrozoff, G. Fisher, Walker, Rector, Dellwo, Scott, Fuhrman, May, Wood, Tate, Brumsickle, Ferguson and Sprenkle)

Establishing the local master's degree teacher training program.

House Committe on Education

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 21, 1990; February 22, 1990

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

      Signed by Senators Saling, Chairman; Bauer, Smitherman, von Reichbauer.

Senate Staff:Jean Six (786-7423)

                  February 23, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 22, 1990

BACKGROUND:

After August 31, 1992, all teachers receiving professional certification will be required to earn a master's degree.  Currently these programs are offered by institutions of higher education.  The programs are offered on college and university campuses with some courses being offered in other locations to enable place bound students to take courses.  In some instances, specific courses have been offered in a district when a number of teachers have been interested in a specific subject or the district has expressed an interest in training its teachers in a specific area.

SUMMARY:

The Higher Education Coordinating Board is authorized to develop a pilot program for the development of a local master's degree training program.  The purpose of the pilot program is to:  1) test the feasibility of offering a master's degree in local districts; 2) develop a collaborative relationship between four-year institutions and local school districts on innovative models to train teachers, and 3) build a research base necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of such programs.  To assist in the development of local master's degree training programs, the board shall award five grants to develop five pilot degree programs.

The five grants may be given to higher education institutions, school districts, or cooperatives of school districts to develop local master's degree programs.  At least two of the grants shall go to cooperatives of two or more school districts.  One grant must also be given to a rural school district.

Proposals for the grants shall be developed by a local advisory board.  Fifty percent of the membership of the board shall be teachers.  The board shall also include a higher education representative.  The local advisory boards shall cooperate with the higher education institutions professional education advisory boards and local education associations in development of the proposals.

Applications shall be submitted by November 1, 1990.  Higher education institutions with main campuses in the state of Washington are eligible to participate in this program.

A review team shall be composed of one member from the Higher Education Coordinating Board, two members from higher education institutions, two members representing the Superintendent of Public Instruction and two members representing the State Board of Education.  They shall review the applications and make recommendations to the Higher Education Coordinating Board on recipients of the grants.  The grants shall be awarded by December 30, 1990.

The application for the grants shall document research on peer coaching and collegiality; use of the latest research and technology on effective teaching, including information developed by teacher effectiveness research centers; understanding of the unique characteristics of field based graduate teacher training; support of the local school district and a Washington institution of higher education; provisions for formal evaluation of the project; identification of an agreed fiscal agent; and assurances and evidence that the quality of the program will be comparable to campus based master's degree programs.

All proposals for local master's degrees involving public universities shall be approved by the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

An initial report on the pilot program shall be made to the Legislature by January 31, 1991.

Implementation of the program is subject to an allocation in the supplemental appropriations act by June 30, 1990.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 17, 1990

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENTS:

The initial report requirement is dropped and the first report by the HECB to the Legislature shall be made by January 31, 1993.  Other technical changes are made.  The State Board of Education will cooperate with the Higher Education Coordinating Board in establishing the local master's degree teaching program.

Senate Committee - Testified: Judy Hartman, WEA; Terry Teale, COP; Monica Schmidt, SBE