SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6484

BYSenators Rinehart, Bailey, Murray, Bauer and Warnke

Providing for grants to develop and support professional development centers.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 22, 1990; January 29, 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:Larry Davis (786-7422)

                  January 30, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 29, 1990

BACKGROUND:

One strategy for enhancing the status of the teaching profession is for experienced teachers and administrators to assume leadership for professional development activities for student, beginning, and practicing teachers.  Professional development centers are a specific approach for professional educators to exercise such leadership.

SUMMARY:

The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) will award grants to school districts for the development of new or the support of existing professional development centers.

Professional development centers are school district-based centers established for purposes including:  providing training in supervision skills for certificated instructional or administrative staff, providing support and training for student and beginning teachers, providing training and evaluation skills and techniques for principals, providing training to educational staff associates who provide support services to teachers, and providing access to post-graduate course offerings.

Grant applications must indicate that an existing center was implemented jointly by at least one district and higher education institution, or if implemented by a district that a college or university will become involved, or that the new center will be implemented jointly by at least one district and college or university.  Grant applications also must include goals and objectives for the center and information in how the center will be evaluated for success.

The SPI adopts rules for the grant program.  Evaluations of the centers are conducted by an SPI established quality review team.  The SPI reports biennially on the grant program.  The first report is due December 1, 1991.

Appropriation:    $500,000 to the Superintendent of Public Instruction

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested

Senate Committee - Testified: FOR:  Senator Rinehart, sponsor; Nathalie Gehrke, University of Washington; Ted Andrews, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction; Judy Hartmann, Washington Education Association; Ronn Robinson, Office of the Governor