Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Education

HB 1413

Brief Description:  Providing a salary bonus for teachers receiving national board for professional teaching standards certification.

Sponsors:  Representatives Quall, D. Schmidt, Ogden, Lantz, Kagi, Kenney, Haigh, Conway, Lovick, Keiser, Miloscia, Simpson, McIntire, Wood and Kessler.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Providing a salary bonus for teachers receiving national board for professional teaching standards certification.

Hearing Date:  1/31/01

Staff:  Susan Morrissey (786‑7111).

Background: 

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that provides advanced, voluntary certification for experienced teachers.  The board was created as a way for the teaching profession to recognize highly accomplished teaching practice. A certificate awarded by the board is intended to show that a teacher has been judged by his or her peers as one who meets high and rigorous professional standards. The NBPTS is governed by a 63 member board of directors, of whom a majority are classroom teachers.  The organization is funded through gifts and grants from foundations, corporations, individuals, the U.S. Department of Education, and the National Science Foundation.

The board certifies teachers in 21 fields using a rigorous process of assessment and evaluation, for which those seeking certification pay a fee.  The standards used in the process are developed by committees of teachers and other experts, and structured around student developmental levels and subject areas.  There are about 68 educators with NBPTS certification teaching in Washington. 

The 1999-00 biennial budget provided funding for a 15 percent salary bonus for teachers who obtained NBPTS certification before or during the 1999-2000 school year.  The bonus was intended to provide recognition for the teachers' outstanding performance.   The 2000 supplemental budget provided a bonus of $3,500 for NBPTS teachers who obtained certification before or during the 2000-01 school year.  The 2000 budget language stipulated that the bonuses are not included in pension calculations.  In addition, the 2000 budget included a statement that the legislature intends that teachers certificated by the board be limited to two bonus payments.

Summary of Bill: 

Teachers who have obtained certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards will receive a 15 percent salary bonus for the duration of the certificate granted by the board.

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

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested January 30, 2001.