PROPOSED RULES
STANDARDS BOARD
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 06-05-060.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 181-78A-100 Existing approved programs 181-78A-105 Procedures for initial approval of an educator preparation program, and 181-78A-110 Length of time for which program approval status shall be granted.
Hearing Location(s): The Red Lion Hotel on Fifth Avenue, 1415 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, on November 16, 2006, at 8:30 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: November 16, 2006.
Submit Written Comments to: Nasue Nishida, P.O. Box 47236, Olympia, WA 98504-7236, e-mail nasue.nishida@k12.wa.us, fax (360) 586-4548, by November 5, 2006.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Nasue Nishida by November 5, 2006, TTY (360) 664-3631 or (360) 725-6238.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Provide more specific processes and procedures to assess higher education preparation programs for state approval and review.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The PESB comprehensive analysis report identified the need for a state level system for assessing preparation program quality. Changes to these areas of WAC were recommended by a subcommittee of the PESB and lay out specific processes and procedures that help better assess the quality of higher education preparation programs for state approval and review.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28A.410.210.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Professional educator standards board, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Nasue Nishida, 600 South Washington Street, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 725-6238; Implementation and Enforcement: Lin Douglas, 600 South Washington Street, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 725-4951.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The proposed rule making does not have [an] impact on small business.
A cost-benefit analysis is required under RCW 34.05.328. A preliminary cost-benefit analysis may be obtained by contacting Nasue Nishida, P.O. Box 47236, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 725-6238, fax (360) 586-4548, e-mail nasue.nishida@k12.wa.us.
October 2, 2006
Nasue Nishida
Policy and Research Analyst
OTS-9086.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 06-14-010, filed 6/22/06,
effective 7/23/06)
WAC 181-78A-100
Existing approved programs.
Chapter 181-78A WAC rules shall govern all policies related to
programs upon adoption by the professional educator standards
board, which shall provide assistance to colleges and
universities in the revision of their existing programs.
(1) All professional education programs shall be reviewed for approval under the 1997 program approval standards of chapter 181-78A WAC by August 31, 2000. Colleges and universities may permit individuals accepted into teacher preparation programs on or before August 31, 2000, to obtain certification by meeting requirements of programs approved under approval standards described in chapter 181-78 WAC if the individuals complete the program on or before August 31, 2003, and the college or university verifies program completion to the superintendent of public instruction on or before December 31, 2003: Provided, That the professional educator standards board or its designee may waive this deadline on a case-by-case basis.
(2) All principal/program administrator programs shall be reviewed for approval under the 2002 program approval standards of chapter 181-78A WAC by August 31, 2004. Colleges and universities may permit individuals accepted into principal/program administrator programs on or before August 31, 2004, to obtain a residency certificate by meeting requirements of programs approved under 1997 approval standards described in chapter 181-78A WAC if the individuals complete the program on or before August 31, 2006, and the college or university verifies program completion to the superintendent of public instruction on or before December 31, 2006. Provided, That the professional educator standards board or its designee may waive this deadline on a case-by-case basis.
(3) All school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker programs shall be approved under the 2004 program approval standards of chapter 181-78A WAC by August 31, 2005. Colleges and universities may permit individuals accepted into the school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker programs on or before August 31, 2005, to obtain a residency certificate by meeting requirements of programs approved under the 1997 approval standards described in chapter 181-78A WAC if the individuals complete the program on or before August 31, 2007, and the college or university verifies program completion to the superintendent of public instruction on or before December 31, 2007. Provided that the professional educator standards board or its designee may waive this deadline on a case-by-case basis.
(4) Individuals who completed a principal/program administrator program on or before August 31, 2004, shall be granted an initial certificate if the preparing college or university verifies completion by December 31, 2004. Individuals who complete an educational staff associate program on or before August 31, 2005, shall be granted an initial certificate if the preparing college or university verifies completion by December 31, 2005.
(5) Institutions shall be given at least one year notification prior to a professional educator standards board review for compliance with these standards: Provided, That if an institution requests a visit with less than a year's notice, the professional educator standards board shall consider that request.
(6) The professional educator standards board shall determine the schedule for such approval reviews and whether an on-site visit or other forms of documentation and validation shall be used for the purposes of granting approval under the 1997 program approval standards. In determining the schedule for site visits, the board shall take into consideration the partnership agreement between the state and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) as such agreement relates to the NCATE accreditation cycle and allow NCATE accredited colleges/universities to follow the NCATE schedule for their state site visit. Non-NCATE accredited colleges/universities shall have a state approval site visit every five years. The professional educator standards board may require more frequent site visits at their discretion pursuant to WAC 181-78A-110(2).
(7) Each institution shall submit its program for review when requested by the professional educator standards board to ensure that the program meets the state's program approval standards and to provide assessment data relative to the performance standards to the professional educator standards board for the year prior to the site visit.
(a) Thirty days prior to the visit, institutions will submit a previsit report that shall:
(i) Describe how the program approval standards are met for each educator preparation program scheduled for review (NCATE reports may fulfill this requirement);
(ii) Describe how "unmet" standards or program weaknesses, identified during the previous site visit, have been corrected;
(iii) Describe major program(s) changes implemented since the last site visit;
(iv) Summarize all WEST-E data since the last site visit;
(v) Summarize all program completer survey data compiled since the last site visit;
(vi) Include all professional education advisory board reports submitted since the last site visit;
(vii) Summarize complaints related to the program(s) and actions taken to remedy the complaints; and
(viii) Describe the criteria used by the program(s) to assess, in multiple ways over time, its candidates' knowledge and skills, including evidence of positive impact on student learning.
(b) The site visit shall be conducted by a team whose membership includes one member of the professional educator standards board, one peer institution representative, one individual with assessment expertise, two practitioners, the office of the superintendent of public instruction liaison, the director of professional education and certification, and the professional certificate program specialist if a professional certificate program will be reviewed. All members, including substitutes, shall be trained.
(c) The site visit shall be conducted in compliance with the protocol and process adopted and published by the professional educator standards board.
(d) The final site visit report and other appropriate documentation will be submitted to the professional educator standards board.
(e) Institutions may submit a rejoinder to the report within two weeks following the public posting of the report.
(f) In considering the report, the professional educator standards board may grant approval according to WAC 181-78A-110 and 181-78A-100(6).
(g) Institutions may request a hearing in instances where it disagrees with the professional educator standards board's decision. The hearing will be conducted by an appeal team whose members shall include three individuals selected from a cadre of trained site visit team members, including at least one higher education representative and one K-12 practitioner.
(8) Institutions seeking National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs, and National Association of School Psychologist accreditation may request from the professional educator standards board approval for concurrent site visits which would utilize the same documentation with the exception of material submitted by the institution to the state for the professional education advisory boards and the accountability standards.
(((9) In submitting a request for approval under these
standards, the approved program shall provide a description of
the criteria that the program will use to assess, in multiple
ways, over time, its certification candidates' knowledge and
skills, including, where appropriate, evidence related to
positive impact on student learning. Based on the
documentation submitted and/or an on-site visit, the
professional educator standards board shall grant approval or
request specific revisions that need to be made in order to
obtain professional educator standards board approval.))
[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.410.210. 06-14-010, § 181-78A-100, filed 6/22/06, effective 7/23/06. 06-02-051, recodified as § 181-78A-100, filed 12/29/05, effective 1/1/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.410.010. 05-15-052, § 180-78A-100, filed 7/12/05, effective 8/12/05; 05-04-056, § 180-78A-100, filed 1/28/05, effective 2/28/05; 04-21-038, § 180-78A-100, filed 10/15/04, effective 11/15/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.305.130 and 28A.410.010. 04-04-090, § 180-78A-100, filed 2/3/04, effective 3/5/04; 02-18-037, § 180-78A-100, filed 8/26/02, effective 9/26/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.305.130 (1) and (2). 00-09-049, § 180-78A-100, filed 4/14/00, effective 5/15/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.305.130 (1) and (2), 28A.410.010 and 28A.150.220(4). 99-01-174, § 180-78A-100, filed 12/23/98, effective 1/23/99.]
(1) Advise the professional educator standards board of its desire to establish a preparation program.
(2) ((Establish the appropriate professional education
advisory board pursuant to WAC 181-78A-205.
(3))) Develop with the assistance of the professional
education advisory board and designated ((officials)) staff of
the ((professional educator standards board)) office of the
superintendent of public instruction, a written preproposal
plan which ((provides timelines for the implementation of all
applicable program approval standards during the first year of
the preparation program)) addresses all preproposal components
adopted and published by the professional educator standards
board and submit such ((report)) plan to the designated
official of the professional educator standards board for
review and comment ((and, if requested,)). Resubmit such plan
to the designated official.
(3) Submit such plan to the professional educator standards board. The college or university may be granted approval for full proposal development or denied approval.
(a) If approved, the college or university shall comply with the following:
(i) Establish the appropriate professional education advisory board pursuant to WAC 181-78A-205;
(ii) Develop with assistance of the professional education advisory board and designated staff of the office of the superintendent of public instruction, a written plan which includes the following:
(A) Timelines for the implementation of all applicable program approval standards during the first year of the program;
(B) The criteria that the program will use to assess, in multiple ways over time, its candidates' knowledge and skills including evidence related to positive impact on student learning (WAC 181-78A-205(4));
(C) How the professional education advisory board was involved in program development, including a letter of support; and
(D) Letters of support from partnership districts and/or other agencies.
(iii) Present the written plan to the professional educator standards board.
(A) The program may be conditionally approved for up to a two-year period in a specific location(s). If not approved, the college or university may resubmit its revised plan or request a contested hearing via an appeal team appointed by the professional educator standards board.
(B) During the second year of approval, staff of the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall conduct a site visit and/or other forms of documentation to determine if the program is in full compliance with the 1997 program approval standards.
(b) If denied, the college or university may resubmit its plan based upon the suggestions of the professional educator standards board.
(4) ((Describe the criteria that the approved preparation
program will use to assess, in multiple ways, over time, its
candidates' knowledge and skills, including, where
appropriate, evidence related to positive impact on student
learning.
(5) Present the written plan to the professional educator standards board which shall approve it and grant initial approval status if the professional educator standards board is satisfied that the college or university will meet all program approval standards in accordance with reasonable and practical timelines and that the college or university has made the needed commitments, specifically personnel and other resources, to implement the plan.
(6) The newly approved preparation program shall be approved for up to a two-year period.
(7) During the second year of approval, the superintendent of public instruction shall conduct a site visit to determine if the program is in full compliance with the 1997 program approval standards.)) Programs shall be approved for a specific location(s) identified in the written plan presented to the professional educator standards board. Institutions seeking to expand an existing program to a new location shall submit a request to the professional educator standards board which contains the following:
(a) A description of the location and facilities;
(b) Verification that no complaints have been filed against the program in its current location(s);
(c) A summary of the findings from the most recent site review, including how weaknesses, if any, have been addressed;
(d) A statement that supports need for the program;
(e) Cost to the students;
(f) Mode(s) of the program delivery; and
(g) Letters of support from program partners. The length of time for which the program approval status shall be granted shall coincide with the length of time for which the program in its current location(s) last received approval. The program review cycle for programs at all locations shall be the same.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.410.210. 06-14-010, § 181-78A-105, filed 6/22/06, effective 7/23/06. 06-02-051, recodified as § 181-78A-105, filed 12/29/05, effective 1/1/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.305.130 (1) and (2), 28A.410.010 and 28A.150.220(4). 99-01-174, § 180-78A-105, filed 12/23/98, effective 1/23/99.]
OTS-9084.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 06-14-010, filed 6/22/06,
effective 7/23/06)
WAC 181-78A-110
Length of time for which program
approval status shall be granted.
(1) The professional
educator standards board shall approve all preparation
programs ((under the 1997 program approval standards for five
years unless the professional educator standards board
approves a variation with the exception of new programs
approved for up to two years under WAC 181-78A-105)) as
follows:
(a) A preparation program will be given full approval of five to seven years if no standards are identified as "unmet." If program weaknesses are identified, institutions will need to address their progress in the annual professional education advisory board report; or
(b) A preparation program will be given a one year conditional approval if one standard is identified as "unmet." Programs will need to address their progress towards meeting this standard in the annual professional education advisory board report and through a focused site visit; or
(c) A preparation program will be asked to withdraw their program for approval and finish their current candidates if two or more standards are identified as "unmet." Programs will be revoked for two years, and have two options:
(i) Programs may call for a hearing, at which time an appeal team will be appointed; or
(ii) Programs may reapply for approval and follow the criteria and processes outlined in WAC 181-78A-105.
(2) The superintendent of public instruction, upon receipt of a complaint from any source or upon her or his initiative, or initiative of the professional educator standards board may review all or any part of a preparation program for compliance with the provisions of this chapter. If deviations are found, the professional educator standards board is authorized to rescind program approval until the college or university submits an acceptable compliance agreement which will bring the preparation program into compliance as soon as reasonably practicable, but no later than the commencement of the succeeding academic year or six calendar months, whichever is later.
(3) If an acceptable compliance agreement is not developed and approved by the professional educator standards board, the preparation program shall be placed on probationary status and the probationary status provision of WAC 181-78A-115 shall apply.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.410.210. 06-14-010, § 181-78A-110, filed 6/22/06, effective 7/23/06. 06-02-051, recodified as § 181-78A-110, filed 12/29/05, effective 1/1/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.410.010 and 28A.305.130 (1) and (2). 99-23-023, § 180-78A-110, filed 11/9/99, effective 12/10/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.305.130 (1) and (2), 28A.410.010 and 28A.150.220(4). 99-01-174, § 180-78A-110, filed 12/23/98, effective 1/23/99.]