SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESHB 1518

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                   Education, March 28, 1995

                 Ways & Means, April 12, 1995

Title:  An act relating to internship credit for teachers.

Brief Description:  Authorizing clock hours for teachers participating in internships.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Thompson, Lambert, Talcott, Brumsickle, Elliot, Radcliff, D. Schmidt, Pelesky, Padden, Veloria, Dickerson, McMahan, Quall, Johnson, Basich and Mason).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  3/21/95, 3/23/95, 3/28/95 [DPA].

Ways & Means:  4/6/95, 4/12/95 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Pelz, Vice Chair; Finkbeiner, Gaspard, Hochstatter, Johnson and Rasmussen.

Staff:  Susan Mielke (786-7422)

Background:  Washington State uses teachers' educational level and teaching experience to determine the allocation to districts for teacher salaries.  Teachers may use academic and in‑service credits to count as additional education on the salary allocation schedule.  Academic credits are those earned at regionally accredited post‑secondary institutions of higher education that apply towards a bachelors or higher degree.  In‑service credits are those earned at in‑service courses offered by a provider approved by the State Board of Education.  Ten clock hours of approved in-service training is equivalent to one academic credit.

Under current law, internships do not count as additional education on the salary allocation schedule.

Summary of Amended Bill:  For the purposes of advancement on the salary allocation schedule, teachers and other certificated personnel can earn one academic credit for each 25 clock hours of participation in an approved internship with business, industry, or government.  The internship must be approved by the State Board of Education and must be directly related to the staff's assignment.  The number of credits that can be earned through internships is limited to two credits within a one-year period, for a total of 15 credits.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  Certificated staff can (1) get one college credit for 25 hours of internship, instead of 40 hours of internship; (2) get credit for internships whether the teacher receives compensation, or does not receive compensation; and (3) are limited to earning no more than 15 college credits through internships.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available for the original bill.

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

Testimony For:  This bill provides a way to make curriculum relevant to both students and teachers by providing opportunities for teachers to gain experience in business, industry and government.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Thompson, original prime sponsor; Kathleen Lopp, WVA; Randy Dorn.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Rinehart, Chair; Loveland, Vice Chair; Bauer, Cantu, Drew, Finkbeiner, Fraser, Gaspard, Hargrove, Hochstatter, Johnson, Long, Moyer, Pelz, Quigley, Sheldon, Snyder, Spanel, Strannigan, Winsley and Wojahn.

Staff:  Bill Freund (786-7715)

Summary of Ways & Means Amended Bill:  For purposes of advancement on the salary allocation schedule, teachers and other certificated personnel can earn one academic credit for each 40 hours of participation in an approved internship with business, industry, or government.  The internship must be approved by the State Board of Education and must be directly related to the staff's assignment.  The number of credits that can be earned through internships is limited to two credits per calendar year, for a total of 15 credits.

The legislative office on performance audit and fiscal analysis shall conduct an evaluation of internship, inservice and academic credits used for advancement on the salary allocation schedule comparing the efficacy of each in improving teacher effectiveness and productivity.

Ways & Means Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  Certificated staff may get credit for internships whether or not the internship is compensated and there is a 15-credit limit on credits which can be earned through internships.

The legislative office on performance audit and fiscal analysis is required to conduct an evaluation of internship, inservice and academic credits used for advancement on the salary allocation schedule.

Testimony For:  This is a tool that the academic teachers need in addition to vocational teachers.  Teachers need to get out into the real world of work and relate that to what they are teaching.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Kathleen Lopp, WA Vocational Association (pro).