SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

March 6, 2003 Hearing Room C

3:00 p.m. Tapes 30-31

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Charles Starr, Chair

Sen. Ryan Deckert, Vice-Chair

Sen. Ted Ferrioli

Sen. Bill Morrisette

MEMBER EXCUSED:

STAFF PRESENT: Jan McComb, Committee Administrator

Romy Dye, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: SB 340 – Public Hearing

SB 11 – Work Session

SB 369 – Public Hearing

SB 370 – Public Hearing

These minutes are in compliance with Senate and House Rules. Only text enclosed in quotation marks reports a speaker’s exact words. For complete contents, please refer to the tapes.

TAPE/#	Speaker	Comments
TAPE 30, A
005	Chair Starr	Calls the sub-committee to order at 3:03 PM. Opens a public hearing on SB 340.
SB 340 – PUBLIC HEARING
007	Roger Beyer	Oregon State Senator. Testifies in support of SB 340. Discusses school districts needing to find the best person they can to do the job.
040	Sen. Morrisette	Supports idea of different tracts for teaching and administrating.
060	Beyer	Comments bill doesn’t exclude anyone from the job.
070	Velma Hartwig	Oregon resident. Agrees. Discusses many people qualified to run school district with various backgrounds. Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT A).
097	Ed Johnstone	Oregon resident. Testifies in support of SB 340 in Lincoln County.
124	Pat Evenson-Brady	Chair, Teachers Standards and Practices Commission and Superintendent of Region 9.Testifies in opposition of SB 340. Concerned with removing administrators from licensure.
153	Sen. Morrisette	Asks whether an occasion of not able to reprimand an administrator who had an exception on administrator license but not a member of the standard and practices has occurred.
157	Evanson-Brady	Answers negatively.
160	Chair Starr	Asks what manner of exceptions looking at for someone filing for exceptional license.
167	Evanson-Brady	Responds has no details but will provide later.
169	Sen. Morrisette	Asks question providing an example in regards to an exceptional administrator license.
180	Evanson-Brady	Responds will provide details on the exceptional administrator license later.
183	Chuck Bennett	Confederation of Oregon School Administrators (COSA). Speaks in opposition of SB 340 providing an example in regards to exceptional administrator’s license. Discusses many qualified people who are seeking various positions and unable to take the job.
266	Chair Starr	Asks whether charters, electronic schools and storefront schools would be a larger problem as the configuration of schools changes.
274	Bennett	Responds need to keep track of it as growth in charter schools occur.
290	Bill Beck	Confederation of Oregon School Administrators (COSA). Testifies in opposition of SB 340. Discusses a Master’s Degree allowing more options and needing leadership on the faculty and a background in education for school to do its job.
329	Sen. Morrisette	Comments need flexibility, guidelines for educational requirement and need curriculum. Asks whether Master’s Degree is basis for educational requirement.
354	Beck	Responds yes it is.
357	Chair Starr	Asks where it shows a Masters degree gives certainty to lead in that arena.
364	Bennett	Answers not prepared today to share that research.
378	Evanson-Brady	Comments on own personal example on preparation for superintendent position.
395	Sen. Ferriolli	Asks how the education institution rewards entrepreneurism and gets innovation in its system in what appears to be a closed loop.
414	Bennett	Responds with example and comments the jobs are competitively recruited.
TAPE 31, A
005	Sen. Ferriolli	Asks about shaking up the educational institution.
023	Bennett	Responds many mechanisms will shake it up but need some sort of expertise.
050	Mardale Dunsworth	Oregon Department of Education (ODE). Expresses concerns: · Administrators may be hired without administrator background weakening statewide licensure system · Elimination requirement for background checks · Mentoring programs for administrators not in place in all districts across the state
071	Chair Starr	Asks how we find information verifying input at educational level has anything to do with performance and outcome for children in the public school system.
081	Dunsworth	Responds standards are established in ODE rule and coursework is established at higher institutions.
090	Chair Starr	Closes the public hearing on SB 340 and opens a work session on SB 11.
SB 11 – WORK SESSION
093	Sen. Ferriolli	MOTION: Moves to ADOPT SB 11-1 amendments dated 01/24/03.
095		VOTE: 4-0 (EXHIBIT C)
	Chair Starr	The motion CARRIES.
100	Sen. Ferriolli	MOTION: Moves SB 11 to the floor with a DO PASS AS AMENDED recommendation.
115		VOTE: 4-0 AYE: In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye.
	Chair Starr	The motion CARRIES. SEN. FERRIOLLI will lead discussion on the floor.
126	Chair Starr	Closes the work session on SB 11 and opens a public hearing on SB 369.
SB 369 – PUBLIC HEARING
134	Velma Hartwig	Oregon resident. Testifies in support of SB 369. Asks how 10% Full-time employees affect small school districts and small schools.
153	Chair Starr	Closes the public hearing on SB 369 and opens a public hearing on SB 370.
SB 370 – PUBLIC HEARING
170	Velma Hartwig	Oregon resident. Asks how those can be included qualified with experience to teach without a professional license.
175	Chair Starr	Asks if referring to a charter school.
179	Hartwig	Responds concerned with other small schools.
187	Ed Johnston	Oregon resident. Comments need variety of teachers to teach students how to read and write.
203	Chair Starr	Closes the public hearing on SB 370 and opens a public hearing on SB 369.
SB 369 – PUBLIC HEARING
207	Ed Johnston	Oregon resident. Comments need flexibility with teachers to teach students how to read and write.
239	Pat Evanson-Brady	Chair, Teachers Standards and Practices Commission and Superintendent of Region 9. Testifies in opposition of SB 369. Comments alternative roots to certification in place and if individuals are not licensed by Teachers Standard Practices Commission they are not subject to discipline imposed by the commission.
265	Holly Cooper	Legislative Assistant. Testifies in support of SB 369 on behalf of Senator John Minnis asking for amendment to SB 369.
286	Chair Starr	Closes the public hearing on SB 369 and opens a public hearing on SB 370.
SB 370 – PUBLIC HEARING
290	Cooper	Legislative Assistant. Testifies in support of SB 370 on behalf of Senator John Minnis.
360	Teresa Ferrer	Center for Teaching and Learning, Oregon Education Association. Testifies in opposition of SB 370. Submits written material. (EXHIBIT B).
TAPE 30, B
066	Sen. Deckert	Asks why not allowing exception for a principle or administrator ability in certain circumstances.
078	Ferrer	Responds exceptional administrator license allows people outside education to be licensed in the state but need basic qualification of Master’s Degree and be supported by district wanting to hire them.
084	Sen. Deckert	Asks why Master’s Degree required if school board believes individual can perform the job.
086	Ferrer	Responds it is a threshold requirement.
100	Sen. Morrisette	Comments would prefer issue to be addressed.
104	Chair Starr	Reopens the public hearings on SB 340 & 369.
SB 340& 369 – PUBLIC HEARING
119	Sen. Deckert	Asks why not allow an extremely qualified individual with no formal education the job.
122	Ferrer	Center for Teaching and Learning, Oregon Education Association. Answers with example in relation to teachers.
128	Chuck Bennett	Confederation of Oregon School Administrators (COSA). Comments Master’s degree is a rule and threshold into becoming an administrator.
158	Sen. Deckert	Asks why not leave the door open for special someone who didn’t meet standards.
166	Bennett	Responds unsure why decision was made and those exceptions are quite rare.
176	Sen. Morrisette	Comments needs further discussion.
189	Chair Starr	Comments many individuals with education would be great teachers. and would like to see people recruited in different areas and should be left open.
216	Tricia Smith	Oregon School Employer’s Association (OSEA). Unsure whether or not bills include teachers working with Education School District’s. Testifies in opposition of SB 369 & 370. Comments needs statewide standards for teachers to give same quality education across state.
299	Sen. Morrisette	Asks whether subject matter knowledge is always translated into good teaching practices.
300	Ferrer	Responds that a combination of content knowledge and ability to teach makes a good teacher along with disposition.
311	Bennett	Testifies in opposition of SB 369 & 370. Mentions additional license opportunities: · Restricted transitional license · Professional technical education · Emergency licenses · Exceptional licenses · Limited teaching licenses
400	Bennett	Expresses concern with number of issues relating to discipline relative to group having professional licenses outside of teaching licenses. Suggests background checks and proper screening with no major changes to Oregon’s system.
428	Bill Beck	Confederation of Oregon School Administrators (COSA). Provides example in opposition of SB 369 & 370. Suggests not making major changes to Oregon’s system.
TAPE 31, B
005	Chair Starr	Asks what qualifications are needed for a highly qualified individual means to maintain a license.
017	Bennett	Responds highly qualified is a federal standard that has to be met.
023	Mardale Dunsworth	Oregon Department of Education (ODE). Expresses concerns: · Concerned teacher at any grade level to be hired by a school district if holding any type of professional license which is in conflict with No Child Left Behind Act · Repeals ORS 342173 · Unclear on whether this bill includes national teaching certification · Removes data from school and district report cards which parents are interested in knowing
042	Sen. Morrisette	Asks why public school systems have rules and Catholic schools do not.
051	Dunsworth	Responds does not know the answer.
055	Sen. Morrisette	Asks whether agree the difference is in a private school parents pay for education and in the public system taxpayers pay education.
059	Dunsworth	Responds not sure if that is the reason but private schools do not require licensure and public schools do.
061	Chair Starr	Comments good educators are out there.
077	Sen. Morrisette	Agrees.
110	Chair Starr	Closes the public hearings on SB 340, 369 & 370 and adjourns the meeting at 4:50 PM.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – SB 340, 369 & 370, written testimony, Velma Hartwig, 1 p

B – SB 370, informational handout, Teresa Ferrer, 6 pp

The following exhibit is listed out of order in the body of the tape log:

C – SB 11, -1 amendments dated 01/24/03, 1 p