HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 2SHB 1729

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to a teacher training pilot program.

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).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Higher Education:  2/17/99, 2/26/99 [DPS];

Appropriations:  3/5/99, 3/6/99 [DP2S(w/o sub HE)].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/12/99, 96-0.

Passed Senate:  4/12/99, 48-1.

Passed Legislature.

        Brief Summary of Second Substitute Bill

$A teacher training pilot project is created.

$The Higher Education Coordinating Board will award grants to institutions of higher education.

$Priority will be given to proposals involving shared facilities, shared resources and co-curricular planning.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Carlson, Republican Co-Chair; Kenney, Democratic Co-Chair; Lantz, Democratic Vice Chair; Radcliff, Republican Vice Chair; Dunn; Edmonds; Esser and Gombosky.

Staff:  Marilee Scarbrough (786-7196).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass and do not pass the substitute bill by Committee on Higher Education.  Signed by 31 members:  Representatives Huff, Republican Co-Chair; H. Sommers, Democratic Co-Chair; Alexander, Republican Vice Chair; Doumit, Democratic Vice Chair; D. Schmidt, Republican Vice Chair; Barlean; Benson; Boldt; Carlson; Clements; Cody; Crouse; Gombosky; Grant; Kagi; Keiser; Kenney; Lambert; Linville; Lisk; Mastin; McIntire; McMorris; Mulliken; Parlette; Regala; Rockefeller; Ruderman; Sullivan; Tokuda and Wensman.

Staff:  Mary Alice Grobins (786-7118).

Background:

Nationwide it is predicted that it is necessary to recruit and train more than 2.2 million teachers over 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. These increases in attrition and retirement rates have generated new efforts to attract and retain teachers in the profession.

Summary of Bill:

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.

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

The Higher Education Coordinating Board shall submit an annual written report beginning in December 2001.

Appropriation:  The sum of $300,000 per biennium, or as much thereof as may be necessary from the general fund.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on proposed substitute February 24, 1999.

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

Testimony For:  (Higher Education) This bill will design a program to meet the need for future teachers.  For too long we have treated education as discrete chunks.  This bill takes steps to integrate the three systems.  It is likely to become a model for teacher education programs in other states.  We need a program that focuses on early recruitment and creates a career track for teacher training.  We need innovative and creative programs to bring people into teaching.

(Appropriations) (Substitute bill) There is a forecasted future shortage of teachers.  This is an innovative program to help address future needs in Washington for teachers.  The bill provides a unique approach, with collaboration of K-12, community colleges and four-year institutions.  It is important to act now in anticipation of teacher shortages.  The State Board of Education is willing to work with the Higher Education Coordinating Board on this program.  Central Washington University is currently operating pilot programs in the Wenatchee schools, as well as pilot programs to train teachers for K-12 education reform.

Testimony Against:  (Higher Education) None.

(Appropriations) None.

Testified:  (Higher Education) Representative Kenney, prime sponsor; Victoria Munoz Richart, Cascadia Community College; Stan Slater, University of Washington - Bothell; Bruce Botka, Higher Education Coordinating Board; and Larry Davis, State Board of Education.

(Appropriations) Representative Kenney, prime sponsor; Victoria Munoz Richart, Cascadia Community College; Kathleen Martin, University of Washington, Bothell; Patty Martin, State Board of Education; Terry Teale, Council of Presidents; and Martha Lindley, Central Washington University.