HOUSE BILL REPORT
2SHB 2212
As Passed House:
March 14, 2005
Title: An act relating to educator certification.
Brief Description: Relating to educator certification.
Sponsors: By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Hunter, Cox, Haigh, Talcott and Lantz).
Brief History:
Education: 2/28/05, 3/1/05 [DPS];
Appropriations: 3/5/05 [DP2S(w/o sub ED)].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 3/14/05, 94-3.
Brief Summary of Second Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Quall, Chair; P. Sullivan, Vice Chair; Talcott, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Curtis, Haigh, Hunter, McDermott, Santos, Shabro and Tom.
Staff: Susan Morrissey (786-7111).
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Majority Report: The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass and do not pass the substitute bill by Committee on Education. Signed by 28 members: Representatives Sommers, Chair; Fromhold, Vice Chair; Alexander, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; McDonald, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Bailey, Buri, Clements, Cody, Conway, Darneille, Dunshee, Grant, Haigh, Hinkle, Hunter, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Linville, McDermott, Miloscia, Pearson, Priest, Schual-Berke, Talcott and Walsh.
Staff: Denise Graham (786-7137).
Background:
The State Board of Education (SBE) adopts rules for the certification of educators and
educational administrators, with advice from the Professional Educator Standards Board
(PESB). The rules are then implemented by the Office of the Superintendent of Public
Instruction (OSPI).
The board has adopted a two-tier certification system for new teachers. The first tier, which
is granted upon completion of an approved college teacher preparation program that leads to
a baccalaureate or graduate degree, is called a residency certificate. This certificate is valid
for five years. The second tier certificate is now called a professional certificate. Beginning
with September 1, 2000, all beginning teachers and most experienced teachers from
out-of-state must earn the professional certificate within five years of obtaining a residency
certificate. A two-year extension may be granted if the candidate is making progress toward
the professional certificate.
This process is very different from that of the previously required continuing certificate in
many significant ways. The professional certificate is performance-based as opposed to
earning 45 credits beyond the bachelor's degree. It relies heavily on the production of
school/classroom-based performance indicators that are evaluated by members of the
teacher's professional growth team.
Professional growth team means a team comprised of the candidate, a colleague specified by
the candidate, a college or university advisor, and a representative from the school district in
which the candidate teaches.
During the interim, several legislators met with groups of teachers to discuss the new
requirements. Although it is working well for some candidates, for others the requirements
have faced unresolved challenges that include wide variations in the quality, relevance, and
cost of different certification programs.
Summary of Second Substitute Bill:
The PESB will review college preparation programs that lead to professional certification.
The review will include required coursework, links to school improvement and teacher
professional growth plans, and program costs. The review will also include a survey of
participants and, beginning in 2008, the impact on student achievement of educators who
have obtained the certification. The PESB will report the results of its review on December
1, 2005 and December 1 of each odd-numbered year thereafter. The report will include the
PESB's findings by institution, a summary of improvement plans, exemplary practices, and
plans for agency assistance to college programs.
The responsibility for adopting rules is transferred from the SBE to the PESB for professional
certification and for the approval of preparation programs leading to that certification. The
rules will:
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: (Education) (In support) The new process for professional certification
leaves some teachers and administrators confused and frustrated. The process is intended to
be performance-based but many participants are experiencing it as one of jumping through
hoops, doing busy work, and paying huge tuition charges for work that doesn't improve
teaching or learning. College programs leading to professional certification vary dramatically
in quality, cost, and relevance. It is time to delay the professional certification requirement
and allow the colleges time to refine their programs to meet the goals of professional
certification. It is also time to move the responsibility for educator certification to the PESB,
a board that has done an excellent job with the Alternative Routes to Certification program.
This legislation begins to address the problems with the current requirement. It is important
to make the certification process work as it was intended and this bill is a step in the right
direction.
(Concerns) Colleges and universities should be the only agencies that may nominate
candidates for professional certification. The legislation should include a stipend of at least
$3,500 for teachers who earn professional certification. It may take more time than is allotted
here to do a thorough review of college professional certification programs. Splitting
authority between the PESB and the SBE on certification and program approval could be a
problem. In addition, the state needs to be careful to send a consistent message that
performance-based certification is here to stay.
Testimony For: (Appropriations) We strongly support the bill because it will help fix a process that is currently not working well.
Testimony Against: (Education) While some problems with the professional certification process have been identified, the OSPI and the colleges are working diligently and quickly to address them. They have already met once and will meet again every two to three weeks during the spring to improve the quality of the programs that lead to certification. They are also looking at ways to create low cost options for participants. This legislation is unnecessary since the SBE can change its rules to address some of the implementation issues that have been raised, and plans, in March, to adopt a rule change that will ease the timelines for candidates. Finally, the governance change contemplated in this legislation is unnecessary.
Testimony Against: (Appropriations) The governance bills that are moving through the Legislature should be settled before this bill moves forward. The PESB should continue to be an advisory body, and they should not conduct professional certification activities.
Persons Testifying: (Education) (In support) Representative Hunter, prime sponsor; Jeanne
Harman, Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession; and Lucinda Young, Washington
Education Association.
(Concerns) Jennifer Wallace, Washington Professional Educators Standards Board; Megan
Atkinson and Mary Jo Larsen, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; and Rainer
Houser, Association of Washington School Principals.
(Opposed) Larry Davis, State Board of Education; and Dan Bishop, Seattle Pacific
University.
Persons Testifying: (Appropriations) (In support) Lucinda Young, Washington Education
Association.
(Opposed) Barbara Mertens, Washington Association of School Administrators; and Jennifer
Priddy, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.