Washington needs more teachers

OLYMPIA — The House Education committee heard testimony recently on a bill aimed at addressing the teacher shortage in Washington state.

HB 2573 has several provisions to try and attract more teachers to Washington. The bill would raise beginning pay, as recommended by the Compensation Technical Working Group (CTWG). The bill would also require hiring bonuses for new hires in rural districts, high-poverty schools, or schools with identified equity gaps.

Mark Heid, superintendent of the Goldendale School District, said he is in favor of hiring bonuses. Heid said his district struggled to get teachers to his small school district.

“We need your help to help us get people in here,” Heid said at the hearing.

To make applying for jobs in the state easier, the bill would establish a state-wide central application depository.

For potential educators from out of state, the bill would make it easier for teachers with five or more years’ experience, National Board certification, or a second-level certification to obtain certification in Washington.

Many school districts are experiencing a shortage of substitute teachers as well. To address this shortage, HB 2573 would allow retired teachers to be employed by a school with a documented shortage of certified substitutes without losing retiree’s benefits.

Kevin Chase, superintendent of Grandview School District, said at the hearing 31 teachers in his district do not have full certificates, and there are six emergency substitutes teaching full-time. Emergency substitutes in his district only need an associate’s degree.

“We are in trouble,” Chase said in the hearing.

The bill would also allocate $3.6 million to the Future Teachers Conditional Scholarship Program.

This piece of legislation was written at the request of State Superintendent Randy Dorn.

Dorn said the high teaching standards of the state may call for the higher beginning pay mentioned in the bill.

“The higher standards you make…that means the funnel gets smaller, you increase the pay, and then you have more people apply,” he said. Although, he added there will be more factors to consider when discussing raising the pay.

Dorn said the bottom two steps of teacher pay should be increased, rather than the entire pay schedule. He cited a lack of sufficient state funds as the reason for not increasing the whole schedule.