Teacher Licensure in Washington.
The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) is Washington's teacher licensing authority. Among other things, the PESB is required to specify the types and kinds of educator certificates to be issued and the conditions for certification.
The residency teacher certificate is Washington's initial teacher license. Applicants for this certificate must possess a bachelor's degree; complete an assessment in the basic skills of reading, writing, and mathematics; pass a content knowledge assessment; undergo a criminal history record check; and:
An out-of-state applicant for the residency teacher certificate may be issued a one-year temporary permit pending verification of completion of the assessment requirements, so long as the applicant provides verification of requirements for education, experience, or both.
As required by state statute, the PESB has established procedures to expedite the issuance of educator certificates to people: who are licensed as educators in another state where the licensure requirements are substantially equivalent to that required for certification in Washington; whose spouse is the subject of a military transfer to Washington; and who left employment in the other state to accompany their spouse to Washington.
Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact.
The Council of State Governments (CSG) and the United States Department of Defense partnered with the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification and other organizations to develop an interstate compact for the purposes of creating teacher license reciprocity among member states and reducing barriers to teacher license portability and teacher employment.
To join the interstate compact, a state must enact into law language that is substantially similar to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact model legislation.
Purpose. The stated purpose of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact (Compact) is to facilitate the mobility of teachers across the member states, with the goal of supporting teachers through a new pathway to licensure. It is further specified that, through the Compact, the member states seek to establish a collective regulatory framework that expedites and enhances the ability of teachers to move across state lines. By joining the Compact, member states ratify additional specified intentions, such as facilitating and enhancing the exchange of licensure, investigative, and disciplinary information between the member states.
Teacher Licensure Under the Compact. Licensure under the Compact pertains only to the initial grant of a license by the receiving state.
Each member state must compile a list of eligible licenses that the state is willing to consider for equivalency and provide this list to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Commission (Commission) established under the Compact. An "eligible license" means a teacher license that requires at least a bachelor's degree and the completion of a state approved program for teacher licensure.
Unless otherwise provided in the Compact, a teacher eligible to receive a license under the Compact must undergo a criminal background check in the receiving state, provide the receiving state with information in addition to the information required for licensure for the purposes of determining compensation, and comply with any applicable conditions of employment in Washington.
Upon receipt of an application for licensure by a teacher holding an unencumbered license, the receiving state's licensing authority must determine which, if any, of the state's eligible licenses the applicant teacher is qualified to hold. An "unencumbered license" means a current, valid authorization issued by a member state's licensing authority allowing an individual to serve as a teacher in prekindergarten through grade 12 (preK-12) public educational settings. An "unencumbered license" is not a restricted, probationary, provisional, substitute, or temporary credential. The receiving state must grant the applicant an unencumbered license, if the receiving state has a license that is equivalent to the license held by the applicant in another member state.
For active military members and eligible military spouses who hold a license that is not unencumbered, the receiving state must grant the applicant a license that is equivalent to the license held by the applicant in another member state, except where the receiving state does not have an equivalent license.
For a teacher holding an unencumbered career and technical education (CTE) license, the receiving state must grant an unencumbered license equivalent to the CTE license held by the applicant and issued by another member state, except where a CTE teacher does not hold a bachelor's degree and the receiving state requires a bachelor's degree for a CTE license. In addition, a receiving state may require CTE teachers to meet state industry recognized requirements.
A member state may require a teacher renewing a license received under the Compact to complete state specific requirements as a condition of licensure renewal or advancement.
Teacher Discipline and Adverse Actions. A member state has the authority to investigate or impose disciplinary measures on teachers according to state practice laws.
The state is authorized to receive, and must provide, files and information regarding the investigation and discipline of teachers in other member states upon request, subject to specified disclosure and data security conditions.
Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Commission. The Commission is established as a joint interstate governmental agency comprised of states that have enacted the Compact.
The composition and powers of the Commission and its executive committee are specified, for example:
Limits of the Compact. The Compact is not a waiver of sovereign immunity.
A member state maintains ownership of its information pertaining to teachers and may govern ownership, use, and dissemination of information pertaining to teachers.
A member state's authority to enter into agreements with other jurisdictions related to awarding teacher licenses, awarding other benefits based on additional professional credentials, or participating in the exchange of names of teachers whose license has been subject to an adverse action by a member state is not superseded by the Compact.
Additional Provisions. The Compact also includes provisions related to Compact enforcement, withdrawal, amendment, and severability, among other topics.
Effective Date. The Compact is effective on the date on which the Compact statute is enacted into law in the tenth member state.
As compared to the original bill, the amended bill requires a teacher eligible to receive a license under the Compact to comply with any applicable conditions of employment in Washington, unless otherwise provided in the Compact.
(In support) There is a teacher shortage in Washington and in the nation. Currently military spouses need to have proof of three consecutive years of teaching experience in another state to be certificated in Washington. It can be difficult to get this proof and to show proof of completing a teacher preparation program. Currently, military spouses can get a temporary certificate if they cannot show this proof but must complete another test to get a permanent teaching license. There are 1,100 military spouses in Washington who would benefit from this policy. The state has lots of military bases, so this bill will help recruit more diverse teachers to military communities. Some veterans strongly support the bill, which lifts a financial burden from military families coming into Washington.
The Council of State Governments has been involved in multiple professional compacts and now has a teacher compact that 16 states have joined. The Compact will expedite certification for teachers from member states if they meet Washington's requirements. This bill provides an opportunity to strengthen and diversify the teacher workforce. Under the bill, a comparable license must be issued to an applicant, and the state can require teachers to complete cultural competency training and other requirements within a certain amount of time to renew the license.
Teachers coming into Washington will also need to commit to diversity training so they can meet the needs of diverse students and communities. Additional training can be required prior to issuance of the second certificate. Applicants from other states should not be required to take a test. The state can withdraw from the Compact if it is not serving the state.
(Opposed) None.
Senator Sam Hunt, prime sponsor; Tammie Perreault, Department of Defense State Liaison Office; Jerry Fugich, Veterans Legislative Coalition; Ryan Grant; Adam Diersing, The Council of State Governments; Mikhail Cherniske, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; and Jennifer Russell.
Jake Mayson, Greater Spokane Incorporated; and Sara Jemo.