House Passes Bill Aimed at Reducing State Teacher Shortage

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington House has passed a bill that seeks to increase the number of public school teachers in the state, in response to a perceived shortage. House Bill 2573, passed on a vote of 92-6 on Wednesday, would require the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to create a statewide plan to bring in more teachers. OSPI reports that a survey in 2015 survey that 93 percent of 733 principals say they either struggle to find qualified teaching candidates or are in "crisis mode" searching for them. Forty-five percent say they couldn't fill openings with qualified teachers.