HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 730

BYRepresentatives Ebersole, Pruitt, Holland, Cole, Peery, Spanel, Jacobsen, P. King, Wang and Unsoeld; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction and State Board of Education

Providing for the recruitment of teachers from underrepresented groups.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:     Do pass.  (20)

     Signed by Representatives Ebersole, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Cole, Cooper, Fuhrman, Holland, Holm, P. King, Peery, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Rust, Schoon, L. Smith, Taylor, Todd, Valle and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION FEBRUARY 27, 1987

BACKGROUND:

There is an increase in the number of minority students in our public school system.  At the same time this increase in minority students is occurring there is a decrease in the number of minority students entering the teaching profession.  Historically there has been an underrepresentation of minority teachers in the Washington public schools.

SUMMARY:

The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall establish a pilot program to encourage underrepresented groups to prepare for the teaching profession.  The program shall : 1) Encourage students in targeted groups in grades nine through twelve to acquire the academic and related skills necessary to prepare for the study of teaching, 2) Promote teaching as a career opportunity, 3) Provide for students to experience the application of their regular high school course work to a teaching career, and 4) Provide for increased cooperation among institutions of higher education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education and local school districts in working toward the goals of this program.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall grant funds to selected higher education institutions and school districts to participate in the development and implementation of this program.

Fiscal Note:    Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Hector Gonzalez, Director, Washington State Commission for Mexican-American Affairs; Judy Hartmann, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     It is essential that minority students have the opportunity to have persons from their ethnic group as teachers.  These individuals are important role models.  As our minority population increases we must be sure that these groups, which are underrepresented in our teaching force, acquire the skills necessary for higher education and consider teaching as a viable occupational choice.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.