FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 2415

C 78 L 02

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Changing qualifications for public school principals and vice principals.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Quall, Talcott, Haigh, Anderson, Rockefeller, Tokuda, Lantz, Romero, McIntire and Chase; by request of Governor Locke, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Board of Education and Professional Educator Standards Board).

House Committee on Education

Senate Committee on Education

Background:

The 1977 Legislature enacted a law that requires school districts to employ principals and vice‑principals who hold valid teacher and administrator certificates.

The State Board of Education (SBE) adopts the rules governing the certification process for teachers and principals.  Under SBE rules, in order to receive initial principal certification, a candidate must hold an approved master's degree, must have completed an approved principal preparation program, and must have previous teaching experience.

The teaching requirements for a candidate that entered a principal preparation program before August 31, 1998, are different from the rules for those who entered after that date.  A candidate who entered a program before August 31, 1998, must have previously completed at least 180 days or their equivalent of teaching.  The teaching experience could occur in school districts, state agencies, colleges or universities, or in the private school system.  A candidate who entered a principal preparation program after August 31, 1998, must have previously completed at least three school years of full‑time teaching in a public or private school.

Summary:

School districts must hire principals and vice‑principals who hold valid administrative certificates.  In addition, these administrators must hold or have held either valid teacher or educational staff associate certificates.  Persons with educational staff associate certificates must also have demonstrated successful school‑based instructional experience.  Persons whose certificates were revoked, suspended, or surrendered may not be employed as public school principals or vice‑principals.

Votes on Final Passage:

House970

Senate460

Effective:  June 13, 2002