AN ACT Relating to teacher competency; adding new sections to chapter 28A.70 RCW; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The state board of education shall adopt regulations for approved teacher preparation programs and student completion of such programs that include but are not limited to the following:

(1) Entrance requirements that include but are not limited to a minimum score on the Washington Pre-College test, or an equivalent test, at or above the fiftieth percentile, and a college grade point average at or above that of the mean grade point average at the institution offering the program;

(2) A course of study that includes but is not limited to a minimum of twenty weeks or two quarters of supervised clinical, laboratory, or practice teaching experience, at least eight weeks of which shall be practice teaching in a board approved or accredited public or nonpublic K-12 classroom; and

(3) Completion of a degree major in an academic field.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The state board of education, with the assistance of the superintendent of public instruction, shall select, adapt, or develop a competency test to be administered to all candidates for initial certification to assess the candidates' mastery of professional teaching or pedagogical knowledge and their subject matter knowledge in areas in which they are seeking certificate endorsements. The superintendent shall supervise test selection, seeking to adapt or develop a test that accurately and fairly assesses competency and is congruent with the minimum generic standards required for the initial certificate. Existing national or other state tests shall be reviewed for appropriateness before development of new test materials. The full test shall be field tested no later than January 31, 1986, with cut-off scores determined, a fee schedule to cover its operating costs established, and implemented no later than May 1986. After one year of operation, the testing program shall be evaluated, and modified as needed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The state board of education shall establish regulations for the assignment of teachers that require all teachers to be assigned within the specific areas of endorsement noted on their certificates. Such assignment regulations shall apply to holders of both the initial and continuing certificate and in all schools of the state. No exceptions may be granted.

(2) The board, with the assistance of the office of the superintendent of public instruction, as well as that of the local school districts, the educational service districts, and the colleges and universities, shall review the criteria for obtaining endorsements with the aim of modifying these to account for and incorporate the following:

(a) Successful experience teaching in a field other than those with endorsement, as evidenced by evaluations, student progress, documented private or self-directed learning, and other relevant factors;

(b) Credit for work done through in-service training or in settings other than those approved for regular endorsement;

(c) Expanded use of cooperative and innovative ways of earning endorsements, including but not limited to courses offered through educational service districts, community colleges, and those making use of communications technologies; and

(d) Use of the subject area tests selected as part of the Washington state teacher competency test established in section 2 of this act or other validated subject area tests to confirm a teacher's minimal competency in endorsed areas for the addition of new endorsements and the renewal of existing ones.

(3) School districts that provide evidence of particular hardship in meeting the regulations required in section 1(1) of this act, whether due to factors of size, remoteness, existing staff mix, or shortages of appropriately qualified teachers, shall be given assistance in developing and implementing a plan for meeting these regulations that addresses the district's needs and considers the factors in subsection (2) of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The state board of education, with the assistance of the superintendent of public instruction, shall review and revise the regulations governing the certification of teachers in vocational subject areas to reflect the important role such teachers perform in reinforcing, enhancing, or providing an applied learning environment for the acquisition of basic literacy, communication, and computational skills. The revised regulations shall include but not be limited to a requirement for teachers seeking initial certification to demonstrate basic skills competency through attainment of a set score or percentile on the Washington Pre-College test or an equivalent test or measure.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Sections 1 through 4 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.70 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The sum of two hundred seventy-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of section 2 of this act.