HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                 ESSB 6668

Title:  An act relating to standards for educator quality.

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Brief Description:  Promoting standards for educator quality.

Sponsors:  Senators McAuliffe, Finkbeiner, Eide, Rasmussen, Goings, Kohl‑Welles, B. Sheldon and Patterson; by request of Governor Locke.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Meeting Date:  February 21, 2000

Bill Analysis Prepared by:  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:  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 teacher, and one will be a member of the public.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction serves as an ex-officio, nonvoting member.  Members are appointed by the Governor and 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 assessment for out-of-state teachers.  The board 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, 2002. Before the tests are implemented, the board will report on them to legislative education committees for the committees' review and comment.  Unless an appropriation is provided, applicants for teacher certification pay a fee for assessment and related costs.

The PESB advises the State Board of Education on issues concerning educator recruitment, hiring, preparation, certification, mentoring and support, professional growth, retention, and governance.  The PESB also reports annually to the Governor and the Legislature.  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.  The current laws on basic skills tests are repealed on September 1, 2002.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  None.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.