H-2072

AN ACT Relating to K-12 education personnel training and recruitment; amending RCW 28A.415.010, 28A.405.450, and 28A.630.400; adding new sections to chapter 28A.415 RCW; creating new sections; recodifying RCW 28A.305.260, 28A.305.270, and 28A.405.450; and repealing RCW 28A.410.140 and 28A.625.420.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

PART I

CENTER FOR IMPROVEMENT OF TEACHING

NEW SECTION. Sec. 101. It is the intent of RCW 28A.415.010, 28A.405.450, as recodified by this act, and sections 201, 301, 401 through 409, 501, and 502 of this act to foster and consolidate K-12 educational staff recruitment and training programs and to provide a continuum of coordinated, comprehensive, regionalized programs designed to enhance the quality of instruction, as well as to improve the ethnic and racial diversity reflected in Washington's K-12 education personnel.

Sec. 102. RCW 28A.415.010 and 1990 c 33 s 414 are each amended to read as follows:

It shall be the responsibility of each educational service district board to establish a center for the improvement of teaching. The center shall administer, coordinate, and act as fiscal agent for such programs related to the recruitment and training of certificated and classified K-12 education personnel as may be delegated to the center by the superintendent of public instruction under RCW 28A.310.470, or the state board of education under RCW 28A.310.480. To assist in these activities, each educational service district board shall establish an improvement of teaching coordinating council to include, at a minimum, representatives as specified in RCW 28A.415.040. An existing in-service training task force, established pursuant to RCW 28A.415.040, may serve as the improvement of teaching coordinating council. The educational service district board shall ensure coordination of programs established pursuant to RCW 28A.415.030, 28A.410.060, 28A.405.450 as recodified by this 1991 act, and sections 101, 201, 301, 401 through 409, 501, and 502 of this 1991 act to the extent possible.

The educational service district board may arrange each year for the holding of one or more teachers' institutes and/or workshops for professional staff preparation and in‑service training in such manner and at such time as the board believes will be of benefit to the teachers and other professional staff of school districts within the educational service district and shall comply with rules and regulations of the state board of education pursuant to RCW 28A.410.060 or the superintendent of public instruction or state board of education pursuant to RCW 28A.405.450 as recodified by this 1991 act, and sections 101, 201, 301, 401 through 409, 501, and 502 of this 1991 act. The board may provide such additional means of teacher and other professional staff preparation and in‑service training as it may deem necessary or appropriate and there shall be a proper charge against the educational service district general expense fund when approved by the educational service district board.

Educational service district boards of contiguous educational service districts, by mutual arrangements, may hold joint institutes and/or workshops, the expenses to be shared in proportion to the numbers of certificated personnel as shown by the last annual reports of the educational service districts holding such joint institutes or workshops.

In local school districts employing more than one hundred teachers and other professional staff, the school district superintendent may hold a teachers' institute of one or more days in such district, said institute when so held by the school district superintendent to be in all respects governed by the provisions of this title and state board of education rules and regulations relating to teachers' institutes held by educational service district superintendents.

PART II

MINORITY TEACHER RECRUITMENT PROGRAM

NEW SECTION. Sec. 201. The Washington state minority teacher recruitment program shall include a career opportunities plan providing for tuition assistance to classified school district classroom assistants who are members of groups traditionally underrepresented in the teaching profession in Washington. Such money as is appropriated by the legislature for this program shall be awarded pursuant to rules established by the state board of education. The tuition assistance awarded to any eligible person shall not exceed the rate of tuition at the nearest regional or state university, whichever is closer.

PART III

PARAPROFESSIONAL TRAINING

NEW SECTION. Sec. 301. (1) The superintendent of public instruction may grant funds to educational service districts or school districts, or both, to develop a twenty-five hour training program for classroom assistants.

(2) As used in this section and section 201 of this act, a "classroom assistant" is an individual, with at least a high school diploma or its equivalent, who assists teachers in the classroom with preparing materials, working with small groups, grading papers, and supervising of students at recess, in the lunchroom, on the bus, and in other ways as assigned by the classroom teachers.

(3) Districts shall submit an application outlining the content of the training and the number of classroom assistants and certificated instructional staff who will participate. Training shall include, but not be limited to, a review of the rules and procedures of the school, operation of equipment, the psychology and development of children, and discipline policies and procedures. Training shall also be provided to certificated instructional staff on methods of working with and supervising a classroom assistant.

Sec. 302. RCW 28A.630.400 and 1989 c 370 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The state board of education and the state board for community college education, in consultation with the superintendent of public instruction, the higher education coordinating board, the state apprenticeship training council, and community colleges, shall work cooperatively to develop by September 1, 1992, ((~~a ninety unit~~)) an educational paraprofessional associate of arts degree.

(2) As used in this section, an "educational paraprofessional" is an individual who has completed an associate of arts degree for an educational paraprofessional. The educational paraprofessional may be hired by a school district to assist certificated instructional staff in the direct instruction of children in small and large groups, individualized instruction, testing of children, recordkeeping, and preparation of materials. The educational paraprofessional shall work under the direction of instructional certificated staff.

(3) The training program for an educational paraprofessional associate of arts degree shall include, but is not limited to, the general requirements for receipt of an associate of arts degree and training in the areas of introduction to childhood education, orientation to handicapped children, fundamentals of childhood education, creative activities for children, instructional materials for children, fine art experiences for children, the psychology of learning, introduction to education, child health and safety, child development and guidance, first aid, and a practicum in a school setting.

(4) In developing the program, consideration shall be given to transferability of credit earned in this program to teacher preparation programs at colleges and universities.

(5) The agencies identified under subsection (1) of this section shall adopt rules as necessary under chapter 34.05 RCW to implement this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 303. RCW 28A.410.140 and 1989 c 253 s 1 are each repealed.

PART IV

STUDENT TEACHING CENTERS

NEW SECTION. Sec. 401. (1) The legislature recognizes that:

(a) Strong teacher preparation programs are vital to the success of the state's entire education system;

(b) Clinical field experiences, particularly student teaching, are critical to the developmental preparation of teacher candidates and to the success of teacher preparation programs;

(c) Schools, school districts, educational service districts, and institutions of higher education benefit mutually from cooperative relationships that provide teacher candidates with appropriate, necessary, and successful student teaching experiences that establish continuity between the theory and practice of teaching;

(d) Positive student teaching experiences result from the careful match between cooperating teachers and student teachers;

(e) Teacher candidates should have student teaching opportunities and other field experiences that are reflective of the diversity existing among schools and school districts state-wide; and

(f) School districts state-wide should have access to student teachers.

(2) Therefore, in support of quality, professional, research-based training of prospective teachers, it is the intent of the legislature to continue its support of evolving partnerships among schools, school districts, educational service districts, community colleges, and colleges and universities, that are:

(a) Benefiting the teaching profession;

(b) Enhancing the ability of all new teachers to assume initial teaching responsibilities with greater confidence and a higher level of training;

(d) Strengthening cooperation and communication between the precollegiate and collegiate sectors of the state education system.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 402. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout sections 403 through 409 of this act.

(1) "Cooperating organizations" means that at least one school district, one college or university, and one educational service district are involved jointly with the development of a student teaching center.

(2) "Cooperating teacher" means a teacher who holds a continuing certificate and supervises and coaches a student teacher.

(3) "Field experience" means opportunities for observation, tutoring, microteaching, extended practicums, and clinical and laboratory experiences which do not fall within the meaning of student teaching.

(4) "School setting" means a classroom in a public, common school in the state of Washington.

(5) "Student teacher" means a candidate for initial teacher certification who is in a state board of education-approved, or regionally or nationally accredited teacher preparation program in a school setting as part of the field-based component of their preparation program.

(6) "Student teaching" means the full quarter or semester in a school setting during which the student teacher observes the cooperating teacher, participates in instructional activities, and assumes both part-time and full-time teaching responsibilities under the supervision of the cooperating teacher.

(7) "Student teaching center" means the program established to provide student teachers in a geographic region of the state with special support and training as part of their teacher preparation program.

(8) "Supervisor or university supervisor" means the regular or adjunct faculty member, or college or university-approved designee, who assists and supervises the work of cooperating teachers and student teachers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 403. (1) Cooperating teachers shall provide a source of continuing and sustained assistance, coaching, and support for student teachers, and may participate with supervisors in evaluating student teachers, and shall submit recommendations to the institutions of higher education respecting the competency of the student teacher. Cooperating teachers shall collaborate with their school principals respecting the support, training, and assistance they provide to student teachers.

(2) All student teachers from an institution of higher education whose preparation program has been approved by the state board of education, or has been regionally or nationally accredited, shall be provided a cooperating teacher.

(3) Cooperating teachers will be appointed by school districts in a joint selection process with the institutions of higher education.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 404. Salary stipends for cooperating teachers shall be paid through supplemental contracts under RCW 28A.400.200(4) and as provided in the state operating appropriations act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 405. The provisions of sections 403 and 404 of this act shall apply to sections 406 through 409 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 406. The state board of education, from appropriated funds, shall establish a network of student teaching centers to support the continuing development of the field-based component of teacher preparation programs. At least one center shall be established in every educational service district region. The purpose of the training centers is to:

(1) Expand opportunities for student teacher placements in school districts state-wide, with an emphasis on those populations and locations that are unserved or underserved;

(2) Provide cooperating teachers for all student teachers during their student internship for up to two academic quarters;

(3) Enhance the student teaching component of teacher preparation programs, including a placement of student teachers in special education and multi-ethnic school settings; and

(4) Expand access to each other and opportunities for collaboration in teacher education between colleges and universities and school districts.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 407. Funds for the student teaching centers shall be allocated by the superintendent of public instruction to each educational service district on the basis of the pro rata share of student teaching placements in the educational service district. The fiscal agent for each center shall be either an educational service district or a state institution of higher education. Fiscal agents shall document to the state board of education the following information:

(1) The existing or proposed center was developed jointly through a process including participation by at least one school district, one college or university, and one educational service district;

(2) Primary administration for each center shall be the responsibility of one or more of the cooperating organizations;

(3) Assurance that the training center program provides appropriate and necessary training in observation, supervision, and assistance skills and techniques for:

(a) Cooperating teachers;

(b) Other school building personnel; and

NEW SECTION. Sec. 408. The student teaching centers shall be an alternative means of placing teachers into school districts throughout the state. Nothing in sections 401 through 409 of this act or RCW 28A.405.450 precludes a higher education institution that is not a participant in a training center from placing student teachers into a district that may be participating formally with other institutions in a student teaching center program, or placing student teachers into districts pursuant to an agreement between the institution and district.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 409. Field experiences may be provided through a student teaching center. The cost of providing such experiences and opportunities shall be the sole responsibility of the participants cooperating in the operation of the center.

Sec. 410. RCW 28A.405.450 and 1990 c 33 s 403 are each amended to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules to establish and operate a teacher assistance program. For the purposes of this section, the terms "mentor teachers," "beginning teachers," and "experienced teachers" may include any person possessing any one of the various certificates issued by the superintendent of public instruction under RCW 28A.410.010. The program shall provide for:

(1) Assistance by mentor teachers who will provide a source of continuing and sustained support to beginning teachers, or experienced teachers, or both, both in and outside the classroom. A mentor teacher may not be involved in evaluations under RCW 28A.405.100 of a teacher who receives assistance from said mentor teacher under the teacher assistance program established under this section. The mentor teachers shall also periodically inform their principals respecting the contents of training sessions and other program activities;

(2) Stipends for mentor teachers and beginning teachers which shall not be deemed compensation for the purposes of salary lid compliance under RCW 28A.58.095: PROVIDED, That stipends shall not be subject to the continuing contract provisions of this title;

(3) Workshops for the training of mentor and beginning teachers;

(4) The use of substitutes to give mentor teachers, beginning teachers, and experienced teachers opportunities to jointly observe and evaluate teaching situations and to give mentor teachers opportunities to observe and assist beginning and experienced teachers in the classroom;

(5) Mentor teachers who are superior teachers based on their evaluations, pursuant to RCW 28A.405.010 through 28A.405.240, and who hold valid continuing certificates;

(6) Mentor teachers shall be selected by the district. If a bargaining unit, certified pursuant to RCW 41.59.090 exists within the district, classroom teachers representing the bargaining unit shall participate in the mentor teacher selection process; and

(7) Periodic consultation by the superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee with representatives of educational organizations and associations, including educational service districts and public and private institutions of higher education, for the purposes of improving communication and cooperation and program review((~~; and~~

~~(8) A report to the legislature describing the results of the program to be delivered not later than December 31, 1987~~)).

PART V

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW SECTION. Sec. 501. The superintendent of public instruction shall collect data related to programs delegated to educational service district improvement of teaching centers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 502. The state board of education and the superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules as necessary under chapter 34.05 RCW to carry out the purposes of sections 101, 201, 301, 401 through 409, and 501 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 503. RCW 28A.625.420 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 10 s 7 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 504. Sections 101, 201, 301, 401, 401 through 409, 501, and 502 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.415 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 505. RCW 28A.305.260, 28A.305.270, and 28A.405.450 are each recodified as sections in chapter 28A.415 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 506. Part headings as used in this act constitute no part of the law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 507. The code reviser shall correct all references in the revised code of Washington to the sections of the code that are recodified by section 505 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 508. If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill number, is not provided by June 30, 1991, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act shall be null and void.