S-4404               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6580

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Senators Johnson, Gaspard, Lee, Smitherman, Kiskaddon and Madsen

Read first time 1/26/88 and referred to Committee on  Education.

AN ACT Relating to vocational-technical institutes; and amending RCW 28A.04.172 and 28A.70.040.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 214, chapter 525, Laws of 1987 and RCW 28A.04.172 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) The state board of education and the higher education coordinating board shall work cooperatively to develop by January 15, 1990, the standards for the implementation of a post-baccalaureate professional teacher preparation program that results in the acquisition of a masters degree in teaching.  The program shall:  (a) Build upon the program of courses required for teacher certification as provided by RCW 28A.04.120 (1) and (((2))) (3); and (b) provide for the application of academic theory to classroom practice.

          (2) In developing the standards under subsection (1) of this section, the state board of education shall consult with institutions of higher education offering teacher preparation programs, the higher education coordinating board, and other groups or organizations having an interest in teacher preparation issues.

(3) The state board of education shall develop masters degree equivalency standards to be used for certifying instructors in vocational-technical institutes.

        Sec. 2.  Section 212, chapter 525, Laws of 1987 and RCW 28A.70.040 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) The state board of education shall adopt rules providing that all individuals qualifying for an initial-level teaching certificate after August 31, 1992, shall possess a baccalaureate degree in the arts, sciences, and/or humanities and have fulfilled the requirements for teacher certification pursuant to RCW 28A.04.120 (1) and (2):  PROVIDED, That the state board of education shall develop baccalaureate degree equivalency standards for certifying instructors in vocational-technical institutes.  However, candidates for grades preschool through six certificates shall have fulfilled the requirements for a major as part of their baccalaureate degree.  If the major is in early childhood education, elementary education, or special education, the candidate must have at least thirty quarter hours or twenty semester hours in one academic field.

          (2) The state board of education shall study the impact of eliminating the major in education under subsection (1) of this section and submit a report to the legislature by January 15, 1990.  The report shall include a recommendation on whether the major in education under subsection (1) of this section should be eliminated.

          (3) The initial certificate shall be valid for two years.

          (4) Certificate holders may renew the certificate for a three-year period by providing proof of acceptance and enrollment in an approved masters degree program.  A second renewal, for a period of two years, may be granted upon recommendation of the degree-granting institution and if the certificate holder can demonstrate substantial progress toward the completion of the masters degree and that the degree will be completed within the two-year extension period.  Under no circumstances may an initial certificate be valid for a period of more than seven years.