FINAL BILL REPORT

ESHB 1570

C 9 L 15 E3

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Creating flexibility for the educator retooling conditional scholarship program.

Sponsors: House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Gregory, Bergquist, S. Hunt, Reykdal, Kilduff, Ortiz-Self and Pollet; by request of Governor Inslee).

House Committee on Education

Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

Background:

A conditional scholarship is a loan that is forgiven in whole or in part in exchange for service as a certificated teacher at a K-12 public school. The state forgives one year of loan obligation for every two years a recipient teaches in a Washington K-12 public school. When a recipient fails to continue with the required course of study or teaching obligation, the recipient must repay the remaining loan principal with interest.

The Retooling to Teach Mathematics and Sciences Conditional Scholarship Program requires a K-12 teacher, or certificated elementary educator who is not employed in a position requiring an elementary education certificate, to pursue an endorsement in math or science to be eligible for the program. The conditional scholarship amount: is determined by the Washington Student Achievement Council, may not exceed $3,000 per year, and is applied to the cost of tuition, fees, and educational expenses. The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) must give preference to scholarship applicants who are eligible veterans or National Guard members.

In 2015 the name of the Retooling to Teach Mathematics and Sciences Conditional Scholarship Program was changed to the Educator Retooling Conditional Scholarship Program. The qualifying endorsements were also expanded to any endorsement in a subject or geographic endorsement shortage area, as defined by the PESB.

Summary:

A K-12 teacher, or certificated elementary educator who is not employed in a position requiring an elementary education certificate, may qualify for the Educator Retooling Conditional Scholarship Program if he or she is pursuing an endorsement in a subject or geographic endorsement shortage area, as defined by the PESB, including but not limited to, mathematics, science, special education, bilingual education, English language learner (ELL), computer science education, or environmental and sustainability education.

In addition to the veterans and National Guard preference, in awarding conditional scholarships to support additional bilingual education or ELL endorsements, the PESB must also give preference to teachers assigned to schools required under state or federal accountability measures to implement a plan for improvement and to teachers assigned to schools whose enrollment of ELL students has increased an average of more than 5 percent per year over the previous three years.

Votes on Final Passage:

First Special Session

Third Special Session