FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1759

                                  C 370 L 89

BYHouse Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Peery, Betrozoff, Crane and Winsley)

Creating the educational staff diversification act.

House Committe on Education

House Committe on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Education and Committee on Ways & Means

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

In 1987 the Legislature authorized the schools of education to give credit to individuals who have worked as a classroom assistant.  The credit may be counted toward fulfilling teacher certification requirements.

SUMMARY:

The State Board of Education and the State Board of Community Colleges, in consultation with the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Higher Education Coordinating Board, the State Apprenticeship Training Council, and the community colleges, shall develop a 90 unit educational paraprofessional associate of arts degree.  In addition to the general requirements for an associate of arts degree, the program shall include training in the areas of childhood education, orientation to handicapped children, fundamentals of childhood education, creative activities for children, instructional materials for children, fine arts for children, the psychology of learning, introduction to education, child health and safety, child development and guidance, first aid, and a practicum in a school setting.

In preparing the program, consideration shall be given to transferability of credit earned in the associate degree to a teacher preparation program at a college or university.  The program shall be developed during the 1990-91 and 1991-92 school years for implementation during the 1992-93 school year.

An educational paraprofessional is an individual who has completed an associate of arts degree for an educational paraprofessional.  This paraprofessional may be hired to work under the direct supervision of a certificated teacher in individualized instruction, testing children, recordkeeping and preparation of materials.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 98   0

      Senate    44     0 (Senate amended)

      House 97   0 (House concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 23, 1989