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

     Purpose: Field placement agreements between institutions of higher education and school districts are described. New sections WAC 181-78A-125 and 181-78A-132 set regulations for both in-state institutions and out-of-state institutions for placing educators in schools as part of their formal education. Assurances are created for background checks and other student safety requirements.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28A.410.210.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 09-20-111 on October 6 [7], 2009.

     Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: Clarification of waiver requirements in earlier version; does not remove background check assurances.

     A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting David Brenna, 600 Washington Street South, Room 400, Olympia, WA 98504-7236, phone (360) 725-6238, fax (360) 586-4548, e-mail david.brenna@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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 13, 2009.

David Brenna

Legislative and

Policy Coordinator

OTS-1952.4

NEW SECTION
WAC 181-78A-125   Field placement agreements.   Beginning September 1, 2010, all educator preparation programs approved or authorized by the professional educator standards board or programs approved in other states operating field experiences in Washington state shall establish and maintain field placement agreements with all Washington school districts in which candidates are placed for field experiences leading to certification or endorsement.

     Each field placement agreement shall include, but not be limited to:

     (1) Assurances that:

     (a) Fingerprint and character clearance under RCW 28A.410.010 must be current at all times during the field experience; and

     (b) Candidates will not be placed in settings in which personal relationships or previous experiences could interfere with objective evaluation of candidates.

     (2) Qualifications of the proposed site supervisor for each site and qualifications of each school's cooperating educator/administrator;

     (3) Clear description by institution of duties and responsibilities of site supervisor and cooperating educator/administrator;

     (4) Anticipated length and nature of field experience;

     (5) Signatures from district representative.

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     (1) Application for authorization. Each institution must submit a proposal that addresses components adopted and published by the professional educator standards board, including:

     (a) Verification of regional accreditation;

     (b) Verification of state approval;

     (c) Verification of higher education coordinating board approval (if offering degree program);

     (d) Planned certification or endorsement program;

     (e) Proposed start date;

     (f) Projected enrollment;

     (g) Data indicating need for program related to geographic location or nature of program offered;

     (h) Explanation of means by which program will ensure candidates have formalized learning opportunities rooted in Washington state standards.

     (2) Field placement agreements. Institutions shall comply with requirements of WAC 181-78A-125.

     (3) Institutions shall comply with applicable annual reporting requirements requested by the professional educator standards board. Failure to report any change in status as submitted under subsection (1)(a) through (h) of this section may result in a loss of authorization to operate field placements in Washington state.

     (4) The professional educator standards board shall publish on its web site a list of those out-of-state programs approved to offer field experiences within Washington state.

     (5) The professional educator standards board shall publish on its web site relevant program approval status information on the out-of-state program from the state in which the program is approved.

     (6) Out-of-state institutions with candidates needing to arrange a supervised field experience within Washington state on an infrequent basis for a limited number of candidates may work with a professional educator standards board approved program to arrange a placement or may seek a waiver for the requirements of this section, except for subsection (2) of this section, from the professional educator standards board. Washington state approved programs facilitating field experience for out-of-state institutions will report annually to the professional educator standards board the name of the institutions(s) and number of placements.

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