H.C.R. 3

1

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
2 FOR EDUCATORS RESOLUTION
3 1998 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Keele Johnson
6 Lloyd W. Frandsen
7 Sheryl L. Allen
8 Ron Bigelow
9 Duane Bourdeaux
Judy Ann Buffmire
Dave Hogue
Susan J. Koehn
Patricia B. Larson
Tammy J. Rowan
Richard M. Siddoway
A. Lamont Tyler
Bill Wright

10 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR
11 RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF TEACHER PREPARATION AND
12 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS; AND ENCOURAGING THE JOINT
13 LIAISON COMMITTEE AND ITS ADVISORY TASK FORCE TO CONTINUE TO BRING
14 RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR LEGISLATION OR POLICIES TO
15 IMPROVE THOSE PROGRAMS.
16 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
17 WHEREAS state and federal policymakers are realizing that the success of education
18 reforms, such as higher academic standards for students and better technology in classrooms,
19 hinges on the skill and knowledge of classroom teachers;
20 WHEREAS teaching is becoming a more complex and difficult task at the same time that
21 public expectations about student performance are rising;
22 WHEREAS in 1995 the Staff Development Task Force created by the State Office of
23 Education issued a report that included a number of recommendations for improving teacher
24 development within the state's public education system, some of which were adopted but many of
25 which were not implemented because funding was not approved;
26 WHEREAS in 1996 the Joint Liaison Committee approved the formation of an Advisory
27 Task Force on Teacher Preparation and Professional Development to advise the committee on

1 ways to link the initial preparation and continuing professional development of teachers through
2 collaboration by public and higher education;
3 WHEREAS the task force has made several recommendations for improving teacher
4 professional development programs throughout the state, including the need to develop a funding
5 plan to support partnerships between teacher preparation programs and school districts as they
6 address such issues as teaching and learning, mentoring and assisting preservice and beginning
7 teachers, and parental involvement; and
8 WHEREAS state and national policymakers are realizing that time is the most critical, and
9 most scarce, resource for professional development:
10 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
11 Governor concurring therein, encourage the Joint Liaison Committee and the Advisory Task Force
12 to continue to bring to the Legislature recommendations for legislation or policies, or both, to
13 improve teacher learning opportunities in the state and focus professional development activities
14 in support of standards-based reforms.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to the members of the
16 Joint Liaison Committee, the Advisory Task Force, the deans of the colleges of education in the
17 state's higher education system, and the state's local boards of education.




Legislative Review Note
as of 11-20-97 1:16 PM

A limited legal review of this bill raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

Committee Note

The Education Interim Committee recommended this bill.

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