BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to teacher assessment for certification; adding new sections to chapter 28A.410 RCW; creating a new section; repealing RCW 28A.410.020; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds and declares:

(1) Washington has a strong and continually improving system of teacher preparation and certification;

(2) Incorporating teacher assessment for certification into the system will contribute both to public confidence and to maintaining an already high quality system of teacher preparation and certification in Washington;

(3) Teacher assessment for certification can guard against admission to the teaching profession of persons who have not demonstrated that they are competent in the basic skills of reading, writing, communications, and math; and knowledgeable in the subjects they will be assigned to teach;

(4) Teacher assessment for certification should be implemented as a complementary element to the existing system of teacher preparation and certification and add value to the candidate's professional growth journey; and

(5) Incorporating teacher assessment for certification should be done in a manner that is aligned with the direction of the improvement of student achievement act of 1993, chapter 336, Laws of 1993.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.410 RCW to read as follows:

(1)(a) By September 1, 2001, the state board of education shall select an assessment developed by a national educational testing company that assesses an applicant's knowledge in basic academic skills. Beginning August 1, 2002, passing this assessment shall be required for admission to state board of education-approved teacher preparation programs and for out-of-state applicants for a Washington residency teaching certificate.

(b) State board of education-approved teacher preparation programs may, on an individual student basis, admit into their programs a candidate who has not achieved the minimum assessment score established by the state board. Individuals so admitted cannot receive residency certification without passing the basic skills assessment under this section.

(2) Beginning not later than September 1, 2002, the state board shall provide for the initial implementation of one or more means of assessing an applicant's knowledge in the subjects for which the applicant has applied for an endorsement. The assessment of subject knowledge shall not include instructional methodology. Beginning May 1, 2003, passing this assessment for the applicable endorsements shall be required to receive a residency certificate.

(3) On each of the assessments under subsections (1) and (2) of this section, an applicant shall be required to achieve at least the minimum assessment score or scores established by the state board as a condition to being admitted into a Washington teacher preparation program and being issued a residency teaching certificate.

(a) The state board of education shall establish the minimum assessment score or scores required on the assessment in subsection (1) of this section.

(b) The advisory committee, created in subsection (8) of this section, shall recommend to the state board of education the minimum assessment score or scores required on the assessment in subsection (2) of this section. The state board of education shall accept the recommendation or reject the recommendation and request the advisory committee to develop new recommendations.

(4) The state board of education and superintendent of public instruction, as determined by the state board, may contract with one or more third parties for:

(a) The selection, purchase, administration, scoring, and reporting of scores of the assessments established by the state board under this section;

(b) Related clerical and administrative activities; or

(5) Unless funds are appropriated for the costs associated with any of the assessments under this section, applicants for admission to a Washington teacher preparation program and applicants for residency teaching certificates shall pay fees established by the state board of education for initial assessments, reassessments, scoring of assessments, reporting of assessment scores, and clerical and administrative activities related thereto. Such fees shall be reasonably related to the direct and indirect costs of the state board and superintendent of public instruction in implementing this section, including contractual costs.

(6) Fee revenues received by the state board and superintendent of public instruction under this section shall be deposited in the teacher assessment account hereby created in the custody of the state treasurer. Moneys deposited in the account shall be expended exclusively for the direct and indirect costs of implementing this section. Only the superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to the allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for disbursement.

(7) The superintendent of public instruction is responsible for supervision and providing support services to administer this section.

(8) The state board of education shall establish an advisory committee, comprised mostly of certificated teachers, and including elementary and secondary school administrators, and representatives of institutions of higher education. By January 1, 2001, the advisory committee shall make recommendations to the state board of education regarding the selection of the assessments required in subsection (2) of this section. The state board of education shall accept the recommendations or reject the recommendations and request the advisory committee to make new recommendations.

(9) The state board shall adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW that the board determines are reasonably necessary for the effective and efficient implementation of this section. The board may adopt rules allowing exceptions from taking any of the assessments under this section on a case-by-case basis.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28A.410 RCW to read as follows:

By December 1, 2002, and annually thereafter, the state board of education shall prepare a report on the number and percentage of candidates who are successful in passing the assessments required under section 2 of this act. The information shall be reported for the individual public and private colleges and universities in Washington as well as reported on an aggregate basis. The report shall also include results disaggregated demographically. The report shall be made available through the state library and over the internet and placed on the legislative alert list.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. RCW 28A.410.020 (Requirements for admission to teacher preparation programs‑-Rules) and 1996 c 309 s 1, 1991 c 116 s 20, 1988 c 251 s 4, & 1987 c 525 s 202, as now or hereafter amended, are each repealed, effective September 1, 2002.