AN ACT Relating to paraeducators; amending RCW 28A.413.040, 28A.413.060, and 28A.413.070; and creating a new section.

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

PARAEDUCATOR REQUIREMENTS

Sec. 1.  RCW 28A.413.040 and 2017 c 237 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

((Effective September 1, 2018,)) (1)(a) A person working as a paraeducator for a school district before or during the 2017-18 school year must meet the requirements of subsection (2) of this section by the date of hire for the 2019-20 school year or any subsequent school year.

(2) The minimum employment requirements for paraeducators are as provided in this subsection. ((The)) A paraeducator must:

(((1))) (a) Be at least eighteen years of age and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent; and

(((2)(a))) (b)(i) Have received a passing grade on the education testing service paraeducator assessment; or

(((b))) (ii) Hold an associate of arts degree; or

(((c))) (iii) Have earned seventy-two quarter credits or forty-eight semester credits at an institution of higher education; or

(((d))) (iv) Have completed a registered apprenticeship program.

Sec. 3.  RCW 28A.413.060 and 2017 c 237 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) ((Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, beginning September 1, 2019,)) School districts must implement this section only in school years for which state funding is appropriated specifically for the purposes of this section and only for the number of days that are funded by the appropriation.

(2) School districts must provide a four-day fundamental course of study on the state standards of practice, as defined by the board, to paraeducators who have not completed the course, either in the district or in another district within the state. School districts must use best efforts to provide the fundamental course of study before the paraeducator begins to work with students and their families, and at a minimum by the deadlines provided in subsection (((2))) (3) of this section.

(((2))) (3) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, school districts must provide the fundamental course of study required in subsection (((1))) (2) of this section ((as follows)) by the deadlines provided in (a) of this subsection:

(a)(i) For paraeducators hired on or before September 1st, by September 30th of that year, regardless of the size of the district; and

(((b))) (ii) For paraeducators hired after September 1st:

(((i))) (A) For districts with ten thousand or more students, within four months of the date of hire; and

(((ii))) (B) For districts with fewer than ten thousand students, no later than September 1st of the following year.

(((3))) (b)(i) For paraeducators hired for the 2018-19 school year, by September 1, 2020; and

(4) School districts may collaborate with other school districts or educational service districts to meet the requirements of this section.

Sec. 4.  RCW 28A.413.070 and 2017 c 237 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) School districts must implement this section only in school years for which state funding is appropriated specifically for the purposes of this section and only for the number of days that are funded by the appropriation.

(2)(a) Paraeducators may become eligible for a general paraeducator certificate by completing the four-day fundamental course of study, as required under RCW 28A.413.060, and an additional ten days of general courses, as defined by the board, on the state paraeducator standards of practice, described in RCW 28A.413.050.

(b) Paraeducators are not required to meet the general paraeducator certificate requirements under this subsection (((1))) (2) unless ((amounts are appropriated for the specific purposes of subsection (2) of this section and RCW 28A.413.060)) the courses necessary to meet the requirements are funded by the state in accordance with subsection (1) of this section and RCW 28A.413.060(1).

(((2) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose,)) (3) Beginning September 1, 2019, school districts must:

(a) Provide paraeducators with general courses on the state paraeducator standards of practice; and

(b) Ensure all paraeducators employed by the district meet the general certification requirements of this section within three years of completing the four-day fundamental course of study.

(((3))) (4) The general paraeducator certificate does not expire.

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