SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6643

BYSenators Thorsness, Niemi, Bailey, Patrick, Metcalf, Amondson, Saling, Johnson, Bender, Sellar and Hayner

Creating an associate instructor teaching classification.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 22, 1990; January 31, 1990

Majority Report:     That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6643 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Senate Staff:Susan Mosborg (786-7439)

                February 5, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 31, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Providing alternate routes of entry into the teaching profession may attract persons of diverse backgrounds to teaching.  It is suggested that persons who are subject-matter qualified but do not possess a Washington state teaching certificate or permit may have much to offer local school districts.

SUMMARY:

School districts are allowed to employ persons who are not certificated teachers to teach part-time as "associate instructors" in the public schools.  Associate instructors must be subject-matter qualified.

To hire an associate instructor, the school district must document in writing to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, that the applicant:  (1) holds a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; (2) has completed at least 30 semester hours, or 45 quarter hours, in the subject matter the applicant will be teaching, or has completed five years professional work experience, two within the past five years, in the subject matter; and (3) has passed a background check by the Washington State Patrol criminal investigation system.

In addition, the school district must document: (1) that it has offered the applicant part-time employment; (2) how it assessed the applicant's knowledge of the subject area in which the applicant will be teaching; (3) that a minimum 60-minute interview of the applicant was conducted by the district superintendent, the principal, and two teachers of the building in which the applicant will be employed; (4) that a certificated staff person has been designated to supervise the associate instructor; (5) the procedures to be used for evaluation of the associate instructor; and (6) the provisions for allowing the associate instructor reasonable planning and study time.

Beginning August 31, 1993, applicants for associate instructor employment are required to take the statewide pedagogy examination required of all instructional staff seeking initial certification.  School districts must use the results of the examination in screening candidates for associate instructor but may not use passage of the exam as a prerequisite for such employment.

Every school district must include as part of its annual basic education report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, information about each associate instructor employed, including:  name; grade level and subject area to which assigned; number of periods taught; and beginning and ending dates of each assignment.

Districts hiring associate instructors must establish and fund a separate salary schedule for associate instructors.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

All provisions of the original bill are deleted.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction is directed to provide information to business and professional organizations and associations regarding the availability of consultant special certificates for subject matter qualified individuals who wish to teach on a limited basis.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    none requested

Senate Committee - Testified:   PRO:  Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors Association; Ronn Robinson, Governor's office; Philip Tenkhoff; William Safford; Bob Williams, Washington Institute for Policy Studies; CON:  Judy Hartmann, WEA; Ted Andrews, SPI's office (neutral)