Title: An act relating to including a classified employee on the Washington professional educator standards board.

Brief Description: Including a classified employee on the Washington professional educator standards board.

Sponsors: Representatives Quall, Talcott, McDermott, Cox, Benson, Ahern, Hunter, Lovick, Dunshee, Anderson, Delvin, McCoy, Cody, Miloscia, Eickmeyer, Mielke, Schindler, Schoesler, Linville, Pearson, Kessler, Rockefeller, Cairnes, Mastin, Grant, Kagi and Upthegrove.

Brief Summary of Bill

• Adds a paraeducator to the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Quall, Chair; McDermott, Vice Chair; Talcott, Ranking Minority Member; Tom, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Cox, Haigh, Hunter, McMahan, Rockefeller and Santos.

The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) was created by the 2000 Legislature to advise and provide recommendations to the State Board of Education (SBE), Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), Governor and Legislature on the full range of issues affecting education professionals. The issues include recruitment, hiring, preparation, certification, mentoring, professional growth, retention, governance, assessment, and evaluation. In addition, the PESB oversees new basic skills and subject matter assessments to be required of all new teachers prior to state certification and brings greater public focus and attention to education professions.

The 2001 Legislature added a responsibility to implement three alternative routes to certify educators.

The Board is comprised of the SPI and 19 members appointed by the Governor to four-year staggered terms. The chair of the PESB is appointed by the Governor from amongst the teachers and principals on the PESB. Of the 19 appointed members, eight are teachers, seven from public schools and one representing private schools. Four members are school administrators, two of whom are public school principals, one principal from a private school and one superintendent. Two members are educational staff associates, and three represent college and university educator preparation programs. One member is a parent and one represents the public. Most of the members of the PESB who represent K-12 and higher education are also required to meet additional qualifications.

The PESB is expanded by one member. The Governor will appoint to the PESB, a classified employee who assists in public school instruction. The employee must have at least three years of public school experience in the paraeducator role and must be currently serving in that capacity.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The 22,300 paraeducators in the state's public schools, share with classroom teachers the responsibility of helping all children to learn and meet high standards. Because their contributions to children are well known and understood, the state is encouraging paraeducators to become teachers through the alternative routes and future teacher scholarship programs. Paraeducators are the only group with instructional responsibility that is not now included on the PESB. Adding one paraeducator to the 19 member board is a way for the state to acknowledge and honor the contribution of these hard working professionals.

Testimony Against: Paraeducators provide an essential role in the K-12 system, but it is a role that is distinct from the roles played by teachers, principals, administrators and other certificated educators who comprise the PESB. The PESB needs to maintain its focus on issues that affect teachers and other certificated educators and administrators. In 2002, at the request of some legislators, the PESB convened a panel of people from organizations that represent paraeducators. The group could not reach consensus on whether the state should expand the PESB to include a paraeducator. Paraeducators need to be at the table but not at this table. Putting a paraeducator on the board is the wrong prescription for a real illness.

Testified: (In support) Representative Quall, prime sponsor; and Doug Nelson Public School Employees of Washington.