H-3965.1          _______________________________________________

                                  HOUSE BILL 2522

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1992 Regular Session

By Representatives Kremen, Jones, Ludwig, Inslee, R. Johnson, Brumsickle, R. Meyers, Dorn, Paris, Orr, May, Scott, Heavey, Haugen, Morris, Hargrove, Rayburn, Roland, Sheldon, Spanel, Rasmussen, Brekke and Edmondson

Read first time 01/20/92.  Referred to Committee on Education.Changing provisions relating to the master's degree requirement for teachers.

     AN ACT Relating to the master's degree requirement for teachers; amending RCW 28A.410.040 and 28A.410.050; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.      The state board of education shall study the current requirements for the certification of teachers and administrators, and shall prepare a report to the legislature that includes options for improving the current certification system.  The report, at a minimum, shall analyze postinitial certificate requirements, including the continuing education, endorsement, and the fifth-year requirements, and shall analyze the merits of requiring teachers and administrators to develop personal education plans after they have obtained their initial certificates.  The report shall be submitted to the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and senate by December 1, 1992.

     Sec. 2.  RCW 28A.410.040 and 1990 c 33 s 406 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) The state board of education shall adopt rules providing that, except as provided in this section, all individuals qualifying for an initial-level teaching certificate after August 31, 1992, shall possess a baccalaureate degree in the arts, sciences, and/or humanities and have fulfilled the requirements for teacher certification pursuant to RCW 28A.305.130 (1) and (2).  ((The state board of education shall develop and adopt rules establishing baccalaureate degree equivalency standards for certification of vocational instructors performing instructional duties and acquiring initial level certification after August 31, 1992.))  However, candidates for grades preschool through eight certificates shall have fulfilled the requirements for a major as part of their baccalaureate degree.  If the major is in early childhood education, elementary education, or special education, the candidate must have at least thirty quarter hours or twenty semester hours in one academic field.

     (2) ((The state board of education shall study the impact of eliminating the major in education under subsection (1) of this section and submit a report to the legislature by January 15, 1990.  The report shall include a recommendation on whether the major in education under subsection (1) of this section should be eliminated.

     (3))) The initial certificate shall be valid for ((two years.

     (4) Certificate holders may renew the certificate for a three-year period by providing proof of acceptance and enrollment in an approved masters degree program.  A second renewal, for a period of two years, may be granted upon recommendation of the degree-granting institution and if the certificate holder can demonstrate substantial progress toward the completion of the masters degree and that the degree will be completed within the two-year extension period.  Under no circumstances may an initial certificate be valid for)) a period of no more than seven years.  The initial certificate may be reinstated pursuant to state board of education rules.

     Sec. 3.  RCW 28A.410.050 and 1989 c 29 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

     (((1) The state board of education shall implement rules providing that all teachers performing instructional duties and acquiring professional level certificate status after August 31, 1992, shall possess, as a requirement of professional status, a masters degree in teaching, or a masters degree in the arts, sciences, and/or humanities.

     (2))) The state board of education shall develop and adopt rules establishing baccalaureate and masters degree equivalency standards for vocational instructors performing instructional duties and acquiring ((professional level)) certification after August 31, 1992.