PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR

[Filed January 24, 2024, 7:12 a.m.]

Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 23-21-040.

Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 181-82A-208 Specialty endorsements and educator certificates.

Hearing Location(s): On March 21, 2024, at 8 a.m., in SeaTac, Washington. Exact meeting location and a link to listen to the meeting virtually will be available several weeks prior to the meeting. More information regarding this can be found on our website https://www.pesb.wa.gov/about-us/board-meetings/.

Date of Intended Adoption: March 21, 2024.

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, by 8 a.m., Monday, March 18, 2024.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact PESB, phone 360-725-6275, email pesb@k12.wa.us, by Thursday, March 7, 2024.

Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The new WAC will add adapted physical education (PE) as a specialty endorsement to the state system along with prerequisite as to who can hold this specialty endorsement.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: PESB approved of adding adapted PE specialty endorsement to the state system as well as prerequisites as to who can hold this specialty endorsement.

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

Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 28A.410 RCW.

Rule is necessary because of federal law, 50 U.S.C. 4025a.

Name of Proponent: PESB, governmental.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Michael Nguyen, P.O. Box 47236, 600 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7236, 360-489-4471; Implementation: Jeffrey Youde, P.O. Box 47236, 600 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7236, 360-870-0143; and Enforcement: Erica Hernandez-Scott, P.O. Box 47236, 600 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7236, 360-890-2443.

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 adopt, amend, or repeal a procedure, practice, or requirement relating to agency hearings; or a filing or related process requirement for applying to an agency for a license or permit.

Scope of exemption for rule proposal:

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 21-20-047, filed 9/28/21, effective 10/29/21)

WAC 181-82A-208Specialty endorsements and educator certificates.

(1) The following specialty endorsements may only be added to an existing endorsed teacher certificate:

(a) Environmental and sustainability education.

(b) Teacher of the visually impaired. Upon adoption of a content knowledge assessment by the professional educator standards board, teacher of the visually impaired will be available as an endorsement. Until adoption, teacher of the visually impaired will be available as a specialty endorsement.

(d) Elementary mathematics specialist.

(e) Adapted physical education. Only teachers holding a health/fitness, special education, early childhood special education, deaf education, deaf education with American sign language (ASL) proficiency, or teacher of the visually impaired endorsement may add the adapted physical education specialty endorsement.

(f) Other specialty endorsements as approved by the professional educator standards board.

(2) The following specialty endorsements may be added to an existing administrator certificate, educational staff associate certificate, or endorsed teacher certificate:

(a) Elementary computer science.

(b) Secondary computer science.

(3) Providers approved by the professional educator standards board may recommend a candidate for a specialty endorsement to the superintendent of public instruction.