HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 5582
As Reported by House Committee On:
Education
Title: An act relating to the conditional employment of teachers with lapsed certificates.
Brief Description: Authorizing the conditional employment of teachers with lapsed certificates.
Sponsors: By Senators Roach, McAuliffe, Winsley, Patterson, Fairley, Morton, Kastama, Hochstatter, Deccio, Swecker, Long, Carlson, Finkbeiner, Hewitt, Stevens, Sheahan, Zarelli, Rossi, Kohl‑Welles and Regala.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Education: 3/22/01, 3/29/01 [DPA].
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Brief Summary of Bill (As Amended by House Committee)
$Authorizing the conditional employment of teachers with lapsed certificates under certain conditions.
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Quall, Democratic Co‑Chair; Talcott, Republican Co‑Chair; Anderson, Republican Vice Chair; Haigh, Democratic Vice Chair; Cox, Ericksen, Keiser, McDermott, Pearson, Rockefeller, Santos, Schindler and D. Schmidt.
Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 1 member: Representative Schual‑Berke.
Staff: Susan Morrissey (786‑7111).
Background:
Teachers must be certified by the state in order to teach in Washington=s public or approved private schools. The State Board of Education establishes the rules that govern teacher certification. Currently, teachers who received their continuing or professional teaching certificates after August 30, 1987, are required to obtain 150 clock hours of classes every five years in order to maintain that certificate. If a teacher does not fulfill the requirement, the teacher's certificate lapses. Teachers with lapsed certificates may be eligible to teach as substitutes, but they may not be employed as regular teachers without obtaining additional credit hours.
Summary of Amended Bill:
For a maximum of two years, qualified individuals with lapsed Washington teaching certificates may be employed on a conditional basis by school districts and approved private schools. In order to qualify for conditional employment, the individuals must complete state background checks, finish certificate renewal requirements within two years of re-employment, and file with their employers a mutually agreed upon written plan for achieving the requirements within the allotted time. Individuals who are hired by a school district will be employed on a one year provisional contract. These individuals must make satisfactory progress toward achievement of the renewal requirements in order to have their provisional contracts renewed for one additional year.
Teachers with certificates that were revoked or suspended are not eligible for conditional employment.
Amended Bill Compared to Bill:
In order to qualify for re-employment under this legislation, a teacher with a lapsed certificate must pass state background checks, file a plan with their employers, make satisfactory progress toward the plan to be eligible for a second year of employment, and accept a provisional contract.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not Requested.
Effective Date of Amended Bill: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: (original bill) The legislation will provide schools with a tool to help meet looming teacher shortages and will help good teachers, who stopped teaching to raise children, return to the classroom. The legislation has great merit as a concept, but some of the refinements in its House companion should be incorporated into the bill.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: (In support) Senator Roach, prime sponsor; Karen Davis, Washington Education Association; Nancy Schwartz, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; and Larry Davis, State Board of Education.