| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Education Committee | |
HJM 4015
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.
Brief Description: Petitioning congress to change the definition of highly qualified teachers to include career and technical teachers hired directly from industry.
Sponsors: Representatives Ormsby, Priest, Fromhold, Orcutt, Sells, Hankins, Hasegawa, Kenney and Morrell.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/15/07
Staff: Barbara McLain (786-7383).
Background:
The federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) requires all teachers of core academic subjects to
meet a federal definition of "highly-qualified" to teach in that subject. The core academic
subjects are language arts, reading, English, science, mathematics, history, government,
geography, economics, arts, civics, and designated world languages. The definition of highly
qualified requires at least a bachelor's degree, full state teacher certification, and demonstrated
subject area and teaching competencies. The competencies can be met in a number of ways.
Schools that receive Title I funds must notify parents if a student has been taught for more than a
month by a teacher who is not considered highly qualified. Washington must file annual reports
on the number of teachers in the state not considered highly qualified.
In Washington, approximately two-thirds of career and technical education (CTE) teachers have
received their state certification on the basis of business and industry experience rather than by
earning a bachelor's degree. These teachers have at least three years of paid work experience in
their field, complete a CTE teacher preparation program, and receive certification in a specific
specialty area.
Although CTE is not considered a core academic subject for purposes of the NCLB, Washington
encourages school districts to adopt course equivalencies for academic and career and technical
education courses and to integrate academic instruction into CTE classes. The NCLB would
require a mathematics class taught through a CTE program, for example, to be taught by a
teacher considered highly qualified to teach mathematics.
Summary of Bill:
Congress is requested to make a change in the definition of highly qualified teacher under the
NCLB to include CTE teachers who come into the teaching profession directly from industry.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.