PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR

[Filed November 16, 2020, 3:28 p.m.]

Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 19-17-026.

Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 181-79A-118, this rule change would allow educators with permits expiring through June 30, 2021, to be issued one additional one-year permit.

Hearing Location(s): On January 21, 2020, at 8 a.m., virtual Zoom meeting.

Date of Intended Adoption: January 21, 2021.

Submit Written Comments to: Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB), P.O. Box 47236, 600 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7236, email pesb@k12.wa.us.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact PESB, phone 360-725-6275, email pesb@k12.wa.us, by January 14, 2021.

Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: This rule change would allow educators with permits expiring through June 30, 2021, to be issued one additional one-year permit.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: Educators are issued permits when they come in from out of state, and have met all certificate requirements with the exception of assessments.

Permits allows educators to serve while they complete assessments.

Testing centers are open, but they are operating at reduced capacity to allow for social distancing. This makes it challenging for educators to get an appointment date.

This permit extension would provide additional flexibility for educators in completing their assessment requirements during COVID-19 closures.

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

Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 28A.410 RCW.

Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

Name of Proponent: PESB, governmental.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Maren Johnson, P.O. Box 47236, 600 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7236, 360-725-6264; Implementation and Enforcement: PESB, P.O. Box 47236, 600 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7236.

A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.

A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328.

This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal:

Is exempt under RCW 19.85.025(3) as the rules relate only to internal governmental operations that are not subject to violation by a nongovernment party.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 20-16-032, filed 7/25/20, effective 8/25/20)

WAC 181-79A-118Expiration and lapse dates of certificates.

(1) Certificates scheduled to expire June 30, 2020, under WAC 181-79A-117, or scheduled to lapse June 30, 2020, under WAC 181-85-100, excluding residency certificates that are subject to reissuance, are scheduled to expire or lapse June 30, 2021.

(2) Certificates scheduled to expire June 30, 2020, under WAC 181-79A-117, or scheduled to lapse June 30, 2020, under WAC 181-85-100, may have already been renewed. For these renewed certificates, the expiration or lapse date will be calculated as if the certificate expiring June 30, 2020, had an expiration or lapse date of June 30, 2021.

(3) Applications for renewal of certificates scheduled to expire June 30, 2021, may be submitted at any point prior to the June 30, 2021, expiration date.

(4) Limited certificates under WAC 181-79A-231, 181-77-014, and 181-77-081 expire as described in those sections.

(5) Permits under WAC 181-01-001, 181-02-001, 181-79A-128, and 181-79A-224 expire as described in those sections. Permits for candidates eligible under those sections which expired beginning July 1, 2019, and before ((December 31, 2020))June 30, 2021, may be reissued once for one additional year.