SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5247

BYSenators Bailey, Rinehart, Murray, Lee, Barr, Gaspard, Bauer and Fleming

Providing for professional enhancement programs for teachers.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 18, 1989; January 26, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5247 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

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

Senate Staff:Leslie Goldstein (786-7424)

                  January 31, 1989

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 1, 1989; March 21, 1989

Majority Report:  That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5247 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Hayner, Johnson, Lee, Moore, Newhouse, Saling, Smith, Talmadge, Warnke, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Ken Kanikeberg (786-7715)

                  March 22, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, MARCH 21, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Studies conducted by national and state groups, including the 1985 State Board of Education Study, "Continuity and Progress," indicate that a key to educational excellence lies in enhancing the profession of teaching to train and retain teachers capable of meeting the educational needs of students in the 21st century. Suggestions for improving the profession of teaching include: increasing beginning teachers' salaries, providing time for preparation and training, improving professionalism by using expert or mentor teachers to assist their colleagues, and providing programs for in-service training and development.

SUMMARY:

CONTRACT YEAR FOR TEACHERS:  The state-funded teacher contract year is increased from 180 days to the equivalent of 185 days.  The increase of the equivalent of five days is to provide teachers time for training and preparation.

Including the equivalent of the extra five days, beginning teachers' salaries are increased to $18,500 for the 1989-90 school year and to $20,000 for the 1990-91 school year.

Funds allocated to districts as part of the basic education formula to extend the teacher contract year are not used to determine the maximum dollar amount that a school district may levy.

MENTOR TEACHER PROGRAM:  School districts are encouraged to use the Teacher Assistance Program (TAP), which provides for mentor teachers to support both beginning and experienced teachers, as a model to encourage professional collegiality among teachers. School districts are further encouraged to consider using mentor teachers as resources for in-service and other programs. 

The Superintendent of Public Instruction submits a biennial report to the Legislature on the number of mentor teacher and experienced teacher teams funded and the number of requests not funded.

IN-SERVICE FOR CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND ACADEMIC EFFICIENCY: The Superintendent of Public Instruction, in consultation with local districts, shall develop and conduct a program for up to three days on effective classroom management and academic efficiency.  Teachers, administrators and aides are eligible to participate.  The participants are encouraged to conduct programs for the staff of their schools.  The program expires on June 30, 1991.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction reports on the results of the program.

An appropriation of $266.7 million is divided as follows:  $239 million for the equivalent of five additional contract days and to increase beginning teacher's salaries; $21.5 million for in-service training;  $1.2 million for training on effective classroom management and academic efficiency;  $5 million for the Teachers Assistance Program. 

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The reporting requirements for the mentor teacher program are changed to require reporting of all mentor teacher teams and requests for mentor teacher teams.

The use of existing models for the in-service training program on classroom management and academic efficiency is authorized but not required.  The participants for each school are selected cooperatively among the administrator, faculty and aides.

The probationary period for nonsupervisory certificated employees is extended from one to three years.

Appropriations are made for each fiscal year of the biennium rather than the 1989-90 and 1990-91 school years.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SECOND SUBSTITUTE:

The in-service program for classroom management and academic efficiency includes training on methods of identifying students with specific learning disabilities.

Language extending the probationary period from one to three years is clarified.

The appropriations are deleted.  The act is null and void if specific funding is not provided.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 9, 1989

Effective Date:July 1, 1989

Senate Committee - Testified: EDUCATION:  FOR:  Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors' Association;  Bob Fisher, Washington Education Association;  Kris Van Gorkom, Washington Association of School Administrators; Leann Chaney, Washington State PTA; Don Johnson, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS: FOR: Senator Cliff Bailey, prime sponsor; Senator Nita Rinehart, sponsor; Lillian Barna, Superintendent, Tacoma School District; Karen Davis, Washington Education Association; Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors Association; Bill Honeysett, Economic Development Board; Kris Van Gorkom, Washington Association of School Administrators; Donna Shy, Washington State PTA