Z-1376

AN ACT Relating to student diversity training; amending RCW 28A.415.010; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that Washington's education system is serving an increasing number of students who bring to the classroom diverse cultures, ethnicity, and languages. In addition, issues of gender equity in such areas as communication styles, problem solving, and learning styles play an important role in Washington's schools. Due to demographic and work force imperatives, the legislature further finds that training in addressing the educational needs of an increasingly diverse student population is essential for classified and certificated K-12 education employees as well as local school board members.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. By October 1, 1993, each teacher, administrator, and educational staff associate preparation program, as well as educational paraprofessional training programs established pursuant to RCW 28A.630.400, shall submit to the state board of education a summary of the actions the program has taken to ensure its students will have the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively teach and work with students of diverse cultures, languages, ethnicity, and gender. The state board of education shall synthesize these summaries and submit a report to the senate and house of representatives education committees of the legislature by December 15, 1994.

Sec. 3. RCW 28A.415.010 and 1991 c 285 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

It shall be the responsibility of each educational service district board to establish a professional development 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~~)) a professional development 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~~)) professional development coordinating council. With such funds as may be appropriated, the educational service district board shall ensure coordination of programs established pursuant to the inservice training act in RCW 28A.415.030, RCW 28A.410.060, ((~~and~~)) the teacher assistance program in RCW 28A.415.250, student teaching centers in RCW 28A.415.100, and the student diversity training program in section 4 of this act.

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.415.250. 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.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules governing the establishment, operation, and content of student diversity training programs which shall be operated, with such funds as may be appropriated, by each educational service district professional development center. The training provided related to issues of student diversity may include, but shall not be limited to:

(1) Culture, language, ethnic, and gender awareness;

(2) Curriculum development, content, evaluation, and selection;

(3) Instructional strategies;

(4) Communication and learning styles;

(5) Assessment processes;

(6) Classroom management and relevant conflict resolution techniques;

(7) Teacher expectations; and

(8) Available related community resources.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. By October 1, 1993, each educational service district professional development center shall provide to the superintendent of public instruction an evaluation of the student diversity training program. The superintendent of public instruction shall synthesize these evaluations and submit a report to the house of representatives and senate education committees of the legislature by December 15, 1994.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The sum of two million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of sections 4 and 5 of this act.