FINAL BILL REPORT

                 2SHB 1729

                         C 177 L 99

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Creating a teacher training pilot program.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Higher Education (Originally sponsored by Representatives Kenney, Carlson, Lantz, Quall, Skinner, Reardon, Gombosky, Edwards, Anderson, Veloria, Edmonds, Dunn, Stensen, McIntire, Kagi, Conway, Regala, Lovick, D. Schmidt, Ogden, Keiser, Dickerson and Santos).

House Committee on Higher Education

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:

A need is predicted to recruit and train more than two million teachers nationwide during the next decade.  According to the Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, teacher attrition rates have increased by 70 percent since 1990.   Additionally, between 1990 and 1996, the number of teachers with 25 or more years of experience grew by 28 percent. Increases in attrition and retirement rates have generated new efforts to attract and retain teachers in the profession.

Summary:

The teacher training pilot program is created.  The Higher Education Coordinating Board, in consultation with the State Board of Education will administer the program.  Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to institutions of higher education.  Priority is given to proposals that involve shared facilities, shared resources and co-curricular planning.

Outcomes for the first year of the biennium are specified and include designing:  (1) a college level course for high school students interested in teaching; (2) lower division courses that support K-12 education reform; (3)  an educational studies minor; (4) mentoring and service learning activities at the community college level; and (5)  a certification process that involves course work and internships.

Beginning on December 31, 2001, the Higher Education Coordinating Board is required to submit an annual status report to the Legislature, the State Board of Education, and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Votes on Final Passage:

House960

Senate481

Effective:July 25, 1999