SENATE 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.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 8, 1989; February 16, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5266 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Senate Staff:Susan Finkel (786-7483)

                  March 10, 1989

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 8, 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.

These new rules will prevent vocational institutes and schools from hiring non-degree holding individuals from the fields of business and industry.

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.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: FOR:  Jim Taylor, Director, New Market Vocational Skills Center, Washington Association for Vocational Administrators; Kathleen Preston, Executive Director, Washington Vocational Administrators; Barbara Otterson, Washington Federation of Teachers; Tim Strege, Council of Vocational Technical Institutions; Jan Carlson, OSPI; Merrit Long, State Board of Education