HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 EHB 2760

                      As Passed House:

                        March 9, 2000

Title:  An act relating to standards for educator quality.

Brief Description:  Promoting standards for educator quality.

Sponsors:  Representatives Quall, Carlson, Lovick, Constantine, Regala, Haigh, Tokuda, Linville, Keiser, Stensen, Conway, Wood, Morris, Kenney and Ogden; by request of Governor Locke.

Brief History:

  Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/9/00, 88-10.

                             Brief Summary of Bill

$Creates the Professional Educator Standards Board to advise the State Board of Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and others on issues of educator quality.

$Assigns to the board the responsibility for the development and implementation of basic skills and subject matter tests for new teachers.

$Gives the governor responsibility for appointing nineteen of the twenty board members and describes the types of educators to be appointed to the board.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Staff:  Susan Morrissey (786-7111).

Background:

By law, as part of its duties, the State Board of Education (SBE) sets requirements for teachers, administrators, and educational staff associates in four major areas:  preparation, assessment, certification, and standards of practice.  Since the early 1990's, the board has been moving toward a performance-based system for the preparation and certification of teachers. One foundation of the performance-based certification system envisioned by the board is the establishment of a series of assessments that will permit potential teachers to demonstrate their competency in three areas: basic skills, knowledge in the subjects they plan to teach, and pedagogy or teaching skills.   The 1995 Legislature directed the board to study and report on some of the implementation issues associated with creating assessments for persons seeking initial or residency teaching certificates.  The legislation required the board to report to the Legislature on the results of the study by January 1,1997.  The legislation also required the board to obtain legislative approval before implementation of any certification assessments.

Since 1987, potential teachers have been required to demonstrate competency in certain basic skills before they are admitted to teacher preparation programs.   These potential teachers must demonstrate competency in the basic skills of oral and written communication, reading, and computation.  They may demonstrate that competency in a variety of ways, including successful completion of an examination of basic skills, completion of a baccalaureate or graduate degree program, completion of two years of college and a demonstration of competency in basic skills and an essay, or by earning a combined score of more than the statewide median score of all persons taking the test in the prior school year.

Summary of Bill:

The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) is created to serve as the sole advisory body to the SBE on issues related to educator certification and to develop and implement tests for newly certified educators.  The PESB is given rule making authority for its testing responsibilities.

The Professional Educator Standards Board includes 20 members representing different facets of the education profession.  Of the 20 members, seven will be public school teachers, one will be a private school teacher, four will be administrators, two will be educational staff associates, three will represent teacher preparation programs, one will be a parent, and one will be a member of the public.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction will serve as an ex-officio, nonvoting member of the board.  The other nineteen members will be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.  Each of the four major caucuses of the legislature are required to nominate one or more public school teachers to serve on the PESB.  The governor is required to select one teacher from each of the four caucus lists.  The nineteen members appointed by the governor will serve staggered terms of four years, not to exceed a total of two consecutive full terms.  The requirements for the various positions are described.

The PESB will develop a basic skills test for persons entering teacher preparation programs and out-of-state teachers seeking initial or residency certification.  The test will be mandatory beginning August 1, 2002.   The PESB may accept an alternative basic skills test for out-of-state teachers and graduate students in masters degree level preparation programs. 

The PESB will also develop subject matter tests for each endorsement area.  The tests, which do not include teaching methodology, will be mandatory for those seeking either residency or professional certificates after September 1, 2003.   The PESB, with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, may contract with a testing company for the development or purchase, and evaluation of the tests.   Before the tests are implemented, the board will report on them to the legislative education committees for the committees' review and comment.  Applicants for teacher certification and applicants to teacher preparation programs may be charged a fee for the tests.  If a fee is charged, it will be paid directly to the contractor providing the test.

The PESB will advise the SBE and OSPI on issues concerning educator recruitment, hiring, preparation, certification, mentoring and support, professional growth, assessment, evaluation, retention, and governance.  The PESB will report on these issues annually to the Governor, certain legislative committees, SBE and OSPI.  The board must submit a separate report by December 1, 2000, recommending two or more high-quality alternate routes to certification.

The PESB may hire an executive director and assistant who will be housed in OSPI for administrative purposes only.  

By January 1, 2001, the Washington Institute for Public Policy will report to the Governor, legislative committees, and others with its findings and recommendations on the governance of educator certification, licensure and preparation and on the scope of authority of the PESB over these and other educator quality issues.  

The current laws on basic skills tests are repealed on September 1, 2002.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Development of a self-regulating board will allow those in the profession to determine their own standards of practice.  A standards board will bring focus, ownership, and a foundation for regulating the profession.  Other states with standards boards claim that self-regulation results in higher standards.  The assessments required through this legislation will ensure that new teachers have the skills and knowledge necessary to enhance student achievement.

Testimony Against:  There is no need to change the governing structure and create a new board because the State Board of Education's advisory board is comprised of teachers.  The elements of this bill should be incorporated into current reform efforts.  There is no provision in the assessment portion for testing pedagogy, and it is important to have all three levels of assessment (basic skills, subject area, and pedagogy) to fully assess teacher quality.

Testified:  (In support)  Jennifer Wallace, Governor's office; Martha Lindley, Central Washington University; Gary King, Patty Maruca, Washington Education Association; and Rainer Houser, Association of Washington School Principals.

(In support with concerns) Michael Vavrus, public college deans of education; Judy Mitchell, Washington State University; and Lin Douglas and Ken Kanikeberg, Office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

(Opposed)  Linda Carpenter, Larry Davis, State Board of Education; Lorraine Wilson, Washington State School Directors Association; and Barbara Mertens, Washington Association of School Administrators.