AN ACT Relating to paraeducators; amending RCW 28A.413.040, 28A.660.042, and 28A.413.060; and making appropriations.

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

Sec. 1.  RCW 28A.413.040 and 2017 c 237 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

((Effective September 1, 2018, the minimum employment requirements for paraeducators are as provided in this section.)) (1) All paraeducators currently employed and hired before September 1, 2018, have until September 1, 2019, to meet the minimum employment standards in this section. Paraeducators hired on or after September 1, 2018, must meet the minimum employment standards in this section when they are hired. The paraeducator must:

(((1))) (a) Be at least eighteen years of age and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent; and

(((2)(a))) (b)(i) Have received a passing grade on the education testing service paraeducator assessment; or

(((b))) (ii) Hold an associate of arts degree; or

(((c))) (iii) Have earned seventy-two quarter credits or forty-eight semester credits at an institution of higher education; or

(((d))) (iv) Have completed a registered apprenticeship program.

Sec. 2.  RCW 28A.660.042 and 2017 c 237 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:

(((1))) The pipeline for paraeducators conditional scholarship program is created. Participation is limited to paraeducators without a college degree who have ((at least three years of classroom)) experience((. It is anticipated that candidates enrolled in this program will complete their associate of arts degree at a community and technical college in two years or less and become eligible for an endorsement in a subject matter shortage area, as defined by the professional educator standards board,)) as defined by the professional educator standards board via route one in the alternative routes to teacher certification program provided in this chapter.

Sec. 3.  RCW 28A.413.060 and 2017 c 237 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, beginning September 1, 2019, school districts must provide a four-day fundamental course of study on the state standards of practice, as defined by the board, to paraeducators who have not completed the course, either in the district or in another district within the state. School districts will have from September 1, 2019, to September 1, 2020, to provide the fundamental course of study to all paraeducators hired before September 1, 2019. For any paraeducator hired on or after September 1, 2019, school districts must use best efforts to provide the fundamental course of study before the paraeducator begins to work with students and their families, and at a minimum by the deadlines provided in subsection (2) of this section.

(2) School districts must provide the fundamental course of study required in subsection (1) of this section as follows:

(a) For paraeducators hired on or before September 1st, by September 30th of that year, regardless of the size of the district; and

(b) For paraeducators hired after September 1st:

(i) For districts with ten thousand or more students, within four months of the date of hire; and

(ii) For districts with fewer than ten thousand students, no later than September 1st of the following year.

(3) School districts may collaborate with other school districts or educational service districts to meet the requirements of this section.

(2) The sum of five hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, from the general fund to the state of Washington professional educator standards board to provide overall oversight and procure or develop professional development for specialty certificates and align courses with general certificate professional development, including any necessary changes or edits to general certificate online modules.

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