ByHouse Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Santos, Lekanoff, J. Johnson, Ortiz-Self, Davis, Simmons, Bergquist, Callan, Berg, and Pollet)

AN ACT Relating to specifying minimum continuing education requirements for administrator and teacher certificate renewals that focus on equity-based school and classroom practices; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.410 RCW.

(1) The Washington professional educator standards board must adopt rules for renewal of administrator certificates and teacher certificates that meet the continuing education requirements of this section.

(2) To renew an administrator certificate on or after July 1, 2023, continuing education must meet the following requirements: 10 percent must focus on equity-based school practices, 10 percent must focus on the national professional standards for education leaders, and five percent must focus on government-to-government relationships with federally recognized tribes.

(3) To renew a teacher certificate on or after July 1, 2023, 15 percent of continuing education must focus on equity-based school practices. This subsection (3) does not apply to a person renewing both a teacher certificate and an administrator certificate.

(4) Continuing education meets the requirements of this section only if it is provided by the office of the superintendent of public instruction, or a school district, educational service district, Washington professional educator standards board-approved administrator or teacher preparation program, the association of Washington school principals, or the Washington education association, if approved to provide clock hours, except that continuing education related to government-to-government relationships with federally recognized tribes must be approved by the northwest tribal leaders congress on education. Continuing education focused on equity-based school practices must align with the standards for cultural competency developed under RCW 28A.410.260.