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                                    ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1374

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State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Brough and Peery)

Read first time 03/03/93. 

Changing provisions relating to the teacher admission to practice examination.

          AN ACT Relating to the admission to practice examination for teacher candidates; and amending RCW 28A.410.030.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  RCW 28A.410.030 and 1991 c 116 s 21 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Effective August 31, 1995, the state board of education shall require ((a uniform state admission to practice examination for)) teacher certification candidates((.  Commencing August 31, 1993, teacher certification candidates completing a teacher preparation program shall be required)) to pass an ((admission to practice examination)) individual assessment before being granted an initial certificate.  The ((examination)) assessment shall test knowledge and competence in subjects including, but not limited to, instructional skills, classroom management, ((and)) student behavior and development((.  The examination shall consist primarily of essay questions)), oral and written language skills, student performance- based assessment skills, and other knowledge, skills, and attributes needed to be successful in assisting all students, including students with diverse and unique needs, in achieving mastery of the essential academic learning requirements established pursuant to RCW 28A.630.885.  In administering the assessment, the state board shall address the needs of certification candidates who have specific learning disabilities, such as dyslexia.

(2) The state board of education shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to implement this section, including, but not limited to, rules establishing the fees assessed persons who apply to take the assessment and the circumstances, if any, under which such fees may be refunded in whole or part.  Fee revenues received under this section shall be deposited in the teacher assessment revolving fund hereby established in the custody of the state treasurer.  The fund is subject to the allotment procedures provided under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for disbursement.  The superintendent of public instruction shall be responsible for administering the assessment program consistent with state board of education rules, and may enter into contracts for six or fewer years with public and private contractors to establish, equip, maintain, and operate the program, in whole or part.  The superintendent of public instruction shall expend moneys from the teacher assessment revolving fund exclusively for the direct and indirect costs of establishing, equipping, maintaining, and operating the assessment program.

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