HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2775
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Reported by House Committee On:
Education
Title: An act relating to bonuses for certain instructional staff certified by the national board for professional teaching standards.
Brief Description: Regarding bonuses for instructional staff certified by the national board for professional teaching standards.
Sponsors: Representatives Barlow, Moeller, Wood, O'Brien, Ormsby, Hasegawa, Green, Seaquist, Goodman, Roberts, Lantz, Sullivan, McIntire and Kelley.
Brief History:
Education: 1/31/08, 2/1/08 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Quall, Chair; Barlow, Vice Chair; Priest, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Haigh, Liias, Roach and Sullivan.
Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 1 member: Representative Santos.
Staff: Barbara McLain (786-7383).
Background:
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is a national, nonprofit
organization that has developed standards for highly accomplished teaching and a voluntary
system to certify teachers who meet those standards. There are also NBPTS certificates for
librarians and school counselors.
In 2007 the Legislature provided in statute that certificated instructional staff who have
attained NBPTS certification will receive a bonus each year they maintain the certification.
The bonus is $5,000 in 2007-08 and increases annually by inflation. Those NBPTS-certified
staff in an instructional assignment in a school where at least 70 percent of the students
qualify for federal free or reduced lunch (FRL) receive an additional $5,000 bonus.
According to figures from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI),
there are 148 individuals eligible to receive the additional bonus. Of the 287 schools in the
state that meet the poverty threshold, a disproportionate number are elementary schools.
There are 200 elementary schools, 35 middle schools, and 22 high schools with 70 percent
FRL students.
Summary of Bill:
Beginning with the 2007-08 school year, the school poverty threshold of 70 percent FRL
students for NBPTS-certified staff to receive an additional $5,000 bonus is reduced to at least
60 percent FRL students in middle schools and at least 50 percent FRL students in high
schools.
The OSPI must adopt a standard definition of elementary, middle, and high schools when
implementing these provisions.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) Middle and high school teachers have a hard time qualifying for the additional
bonus because older students tend not to sign up for free or reduced lunch, even if they are
poor. There are many examples where all of the feeder elementary schools reach the
threshold, but the middle or high school does not. These are the same children, and these
schools face the same challenges. We need to recognize the challenges of poverty and
provide the very best teachers in these schools.
(Concerns) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Barlow, prime sponsor; Kelly Cannard, Vancouver School District; Lucinda Young, Washington Education Association; Michaela Miller, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; and Kim McClung, Kent-Meridian High School.