WSR 06-24-082

PERMANENT RULES

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR

STANDARDS BOARD

[ Filed December 5, 2006, 8:44 a.m. , effective January 5, 2007 ]


     Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

     Purpose: Provide more specific processes and procedures to assess higher education preparation programs for state approval and review.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 181-78A-100, 181-78A-105, and 181-78A-110.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28A.410.210.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 06-20-121 on October 4, 2006.

     A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Nasue Nishida, P.O. Box 47236, Olympia, WA 98504-7236, phone (360) 725-6238, fax (360) 586-4548, e-mail nasue.nishida@k12.wa.us.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: November 16, 2006.

Nasue Nishida

Policy and Research Analyst

OTS-9086.3


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 is one member of the professional educator standards board, one peer institution representative, one individual with assessment expertise, two K-12 practitioners with expertise related to the programs scheduled for review, 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. Substitutes may be assigned when individuals in specific role assignments are not available. 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.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 06-14-010, filed 6/22/06, effective 7/23/06)

WAC 181-78A-105   Procedures for initial approval of an educator preparation program.   Each college or university desiring to establish a preparation program shall comply with the following:

     (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-9084.3


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)) Existing programs. Based upon review of the program site visit report and other documentation requested, the professional educator standards board shall take one of the following actions:

     (a) One-year approval;

     (b) Five-year approval;

     (c) Seven-year approval (WAC 181-78A-100(6)); or

     (d) Disapproval (WAC 181-78A-115).

     (2) New programs. All new programs shall be conditionally approved for up to two years under WAC 181-78A-105.

     (3) 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))) (4) 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.]

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