H-1506              _______________________________________________

 

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1064

                        _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Rayburn, Long, Holland, Valle, Ebersole, Cole, Todd, L. Smith, Chandler, Walker, Hastings, Addison, Vander Stoep and K. Wilson

 

 

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on Education.

 

 


AN ACT Relating to teacher preparation; amending  RCW 28A.04.120 and 28A.70.005; and adding new sections to chapter 28A.70 RCW.

 

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

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.70 RCW to read as follows:

          After June 30, 1987, each applicant for initial certification shall pass a competency examination or examinations that measure the applicant's subject area knowledge and professional teaching skills and satisfy other procedures prescribed by the state board of education before receiving initial certification to teach or perform other professional duties in the schools of the state.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.70 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The state board of education shall establish and maintain a competency examination program for initial certification of personnel employed in the common schools.  The board shall consult with state education associations and such other groups as the board may deem appropriate in the development or choice of the examination program.  The board may develop the examination program or contract with an institution of higher education or independent testing service to develop, administer, score, and provide appropriate analysis of examinations.

          (2) The board shall charge a fee to applicants sufficient to cover costs associated with the development and implementation of the examination program.

          (3) The board shall review the examination program and the implications for establishing examination programs for continuing certification and certification of other professional roles which require certification or endorsement and report back to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate with recommendations and conclusions no later than December 31, 1984.

 

        Sec. 3.  Section 28A.04.120, chapter 223, Laws of 1969 ex. sess. as last amended by section 2, chapter 40, Laws of 1984 and RCW 28A.04.120 are each amended to read as follows:

          In addition to any other powers and duties as provided by law, the state board of education shall:

          (1) Approve the program of courses leading to teacher, school administrator, and school specialized personnel certification offered by all institutions of higher education within the state which may be accredited and whose graduates may become entitled to receive such certification.

          (2) Investigate the character of the work required to be performed as a condition of entrance to and graduation from any institution of higher education in this state relative to such certification as provided for in subsection (1) above, and prepare a list of accredited institutions of higher education of this and other states whose graduates may be awarded such certificates.

          (3) Establish and maintain a competency examination program for initial certification.

          (4) Supervise the issuance of such certificates as provided for in subsection (1) above and specify the types and kinds of certificates necessary for the several departments of the common schools by rule or regulation in accordance with RCW 28A.70.005.

          (((4))) (5) Accredit, subject to such accreditation standards and procedures as may  be established by the state board of education, all schools that apply for accreditation, and approve, subject to the provisions of RCW 28A.02.201, private schools carrying out a program for any or all of the grades one through twelve:  PROVIDED, That no public or private schools shall be placed upon the list of accredited schools so long as secret societies are knowingly allowed to exist among its students by school officials:  PROVIDED FURTHER, That the state board may elect to require all or certain classifications of the public schools to conduct and participate in such pre-accreditation examination and evaluation processes as may now or hereafter be established by the board.

          (((5))) (6) Make rules and regulations governing the establishment in any existing nonhigh school district of any secondary program or any new grades in grades nine through twelve.  Before any such program or any new grades are established the district must obtain prior approval of the state board.

          (((6))) (7) Prepare such outline of study for the common schools as the board shall deem necessary, and prescribe such rules for the general government of the common schools, as shall seek to secure regularity of attendance, prevent truancy, secure efficiency, and promote the true interest of the common schools.

          (((7))) (8) Prepare with the assistance of the superintendent of public instruction a uniform series of questions, with the proper answers thereto for use in the correcting thereof, to be used in the examination of persons, as this code may direct, and prescribe rules and regulations for conducting any such examinations.

          (((8))) (9) Continuously reevaluate courses and adopt and enforce regulations within the common schools so as to meet the educational needs of students and articulate with the institutions of higher education and unify the work of the public school system.

          (((9))) (10) Carry out board powers and duties relating to the organization and reorganization of school districts under chapter 28A.57 RCW.

          (((10))) (11) By rule or regulation promulgated upon the advice of the state fire marshal, provide for instruction of pupils in the public and private schools carrying out a K through 12 program, or any part thereof, so that in case of sudden emergency they shall be able to leave their particular school building in the shortest possible time or take such other steps as the particular emergency demands, and without confusion or panic; such rules and regulations shall be published and distributed to certificated personnel throughout the state whose duties shall include a familiarization therewith as well as the means of implementation thereof at their particular school.

          (((11))) (12) Hear and decide appeals as otherwise provided by law.

 

        Sec. 4.  Section 28A.70.005, chapter 223, Laws of 1969 ex. sess. as amended by section 2, chapter 92, Laws of 1975-'76 2nd ex. sess. and RCW 28A.70.005 are each amended to read as follows:

          The state board of education shall establish, publish and enforce rules and regulations determining eligibility for and certification of  personnel employed in the common schools of this state, including competency examination requirements for all applicants for initial certification and certification for emergency or temporary, substitute or provisional duty and under such certificates or permits as the board shall deem proper or as otherwise prescribed by law.  The superintendent of public instruction shall act as the administrator of any such rules and regulations and have the power to issue any certificates or permits and revoke the same in accordance with board rules and regulations.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5.  A new section is added to chapter  28A.70 RCW to read as follows:

          All persons entering teacher preparation programs after September 1, 1986, shall earn a subject matter major approved by the state board of education in courses approved by the state board of education of at least twenty quarter credit hours or the equivalent.  The state board of education shall provide for the certificate to contain an endorsement if the major and course requirements in this section have been satisfactorily completed.