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2000 SESSION

006287676
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 159
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Rules
on February 11, 2000)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Councill)
Establishing a commission to study the shortage of teachers in the public schools of the Commonwealth.

WHEREAS, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, teacher attrition and retirement and burgeoning student enrollments will prompt a need for about 2.4 million teachers nationwide in the next 11 years; and

WHEREAS, 20 percent of all new teacher hires leave teaching within three years and, in urban school divisions, an estimated 50 percent of new teachers leave the profession in the first five years; and

WHEREAS, the implementation of class size reduction initiatives will also exacerbate this growing demand for qualified education personnel; and

WHEREAS, to meet these challenges, many states are exploring a variety of initiatives, including attracting students in secondary and postsecondary schools to the teaching profession; recruiting mid-career professionals in other disciplines; scholarship and loan programs; and loan forgiveness for service in a critical academic shortage area or particular geographic regions; and

WHEREAS, the use of paraprofessionals in the classroom has spiraled due to the severe shortage of teachers nationwide; and

WHEREAS, although paraprofessionals are special persons whose contributions in the classroom enhance learning and provide essential support for instructional programs, they often have not completed the formal education and training required of licensed teachers; and

WHEREAS, while increasing the use of paraprofessionals in the classroom may be a temporary means to address the shortage of classroom teachers, encouraging persons employed as paraprofessionals to become fully licensed teachers may be a more effective way to alleviate the shortage of teachers; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth's commitment to providing the highest quality instructional personnel is reflected in numerous statutory and regulatory requirements governing teacher education and licensure, scholarship assistance, employment, and professional development; and

WHEREAS, Virginia's commitment to accountability for quality instruction has been evidenced in the recent passage of measures directing school boards to “fill positions with licensed instructional personnel qualified in the relevant subject areas” and to include in their employment policies “incentives for excellence in teaching, including financial support for teachers attending professional development seminars or those seeking and obtaining national certification”; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly adopted the comprehensive Education Accountability and Quality Enhancement Act of 1999, which, among other things, established the National Teacher Certification Reward Program to provide annual monetary awards to teachers achieving and maintaining national certification; required the Board of Education to require persons seeking initial licensure on and after July 1, 2003, to complete study in instructional methods tailored to promote student achievement and effective preparation for the Standards of Learning end-of-course and end-of-grade assessments; and directed school boards to provide mentor teachers to probationary teachers; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly and the Board of Education, in the Standards of Quality, expressed the belief that "the fundamental goal of the public schools … must be to enable each student to develop the skills that are necessary for success in school and preparation for life, and … that the quality of education is dependent upon the provision of the appropriate working environment, benefits, and salaries necessary to ensure the availability of high quality instructional personnel and adequate commitment of other resources"; and

WHEREAS, despite initiatives such as the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program and the Diversity in Teaching Program, alternative licensure routes, and mentorships, the recruitment and retention of instructional personnel, particularly for certain disciplines, grade levels, and geographic regions, remain a primary concern if the Commonwealth is to realize its commitment to this "fundamental goal"; and

WHEREAS, closer examination of the increasing demand for public school teachers, and current incentives for entering the profession as well as a variety of educational and policy issues to equip the Commonwealth in addressing the looming teacher shortage without compromising the quality of instruction in the public schools; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a commission be established to study the shortage of teachers in the public schools of the Commonwealth. The commission shall be composed of fourteen members, which shall include eight legislative members; four nonlegislative citizen members, representing the education profession and the community at large; and two ex officio members as follows: five members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker, in accordance with the principles of Rule 16 of the Rules of the House of Delegates; three members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; two citizens, to be appointed by the Speaker; two citizens to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; and the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, who shall serve ex officio with full voting privileges.

In conducting its study, the commission shall examine current teacher recruitment and retention initiatives in the Commonwealth and other states; access to and availability of teacher education programs at Virginia institutions of higher education; critical teacher shortage disciplines in the Commonwealth; alternative licensure opportunities; license portability; retirement benefits, including increased flexibility in employing retired teachers; the use of paraprofessionals and the appropriateness and efficacy of encouraging them to become fully licensed teachers; and such other issues as the commission may deem appropriate.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $12,000.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the commission, upon request.

The commission shall complete its work in time to submit its written findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2001 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.