PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR

[Filed July 25, 2020, 10:45 a.m., effective August 25, 2020]

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

Purpose: Washington state approved teacher preparation programs may recommend candidates for an emergency certificate if they have met all program completion requirements with the exception of one or more of the assessment requirements. Testing centers are now closed due to public health reasons, and it is very challenging to complete the assessments. This allows individuals to serve in the role of teacher for one year, allowing them to complete their assessment requirements.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 181-79A-228.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 28A.410 RCW.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 20-12-055 on July 16, 2020 [May 29, 2020].

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: July 23, 2020.

WAC 181-79A-228Emergency teacher certificates.

Emergency teacher certificates, valid for one year, may be issued by the superintendent of public instruction under the following conditions:

(1) A teacher preparation program approved by the professional educator standards board has recommended the candidate as having met all requirements for program completion with the exception of one or more of the following:

(a) The performance assessment as described in WAC 181-78A-232 and 181-78A-300;

(b) The content knowledge assessment as described in WAC 181-78A-300 (2)(b); and

(2) During the validity period of the certificate, preparation program providers are required to inform, advise, and support applicants on assessment requirements as described in WAC 181-78A-231(3).

(3) Teacher preparation programs may recommend candidates for an emergency certificate under this section through June 30, 2021.

(4) One additional one-year emergency certificate may be issued upon recommendation by the preparation program provider. Teacher preparation programs may recommend candidates for this additional one-year emergency certificate through December 31, 2021.