HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5470

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to salary allocations for basic education certificated instructional staff.

Brief Description:  Eliminating certain limitations on credit hours that may be used to determine compensation allocations for basic education certificated instructional staff.

Sponsors:  Senators Pelz, Bauer, Skratek, Drew and McAuliffe.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Education, March 30, 1993, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 18 members:  Representatives Dorn, Chair; Cothern, Vice Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; Thomas, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brumsickle; Carlson; G. Cole; Eide; G. Fisher; Hansen; Holm; Jones; Karahalios; J. Kohl; Pruitt; Roland; Stevens; and Vance.

Staff:  Robert Butts (786-7111).

Background:  The Legislature allocates funds to school districts to pay for salaries for certificated instructional staff based upon the experience and education of the certificated employees in the district.  The salary allocation schedule allocates different sums of money for a teacher with a baccalaureate degree and between 15 and 135 credits, a master's degree and between 45 and 90 credits, and for a doctorate degree. 

The salary allocation schedule provides funds for a teacher with a bachelor's degree and up to 135 credits earned after the bachelor's degree, if those credits were earned before January 1, 1992.  If a teacher did not earn the credits before January 1, 1992, only 90 quarter college hour credits earned after the baccalaureate degree are recognized.  

The change in the allocation schedule that took effect on January 1, 1992 was intended to encourage teachers to obtain a master's degree.

Summary of Bill:  The legislation removes the limit prohibiting the recognition of more than 90 college quarter credit hours earned after the baccalaureate degree if those credits were earned after January 1, 1992.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 2, 1993.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill will remove an incentive for teachers to obtain master's degrees.  Master's degrees do not mean that you are a better teacher, and in remote regions of the state it is difficult to obtain a master's degree.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Bob Maier, Washington Education Association (supports).