S-1626

AN ACT Relating to the local master's degree teacher training program; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The higher education coordinating board shall establish a pilot program for the development of local master's degree teacher training programs. The purpose of the program is to plan for field based master's level education in local school districts for teachers. The goals of the program are to:

(a) Test the feasibility of offering master's degrees in the local school districts;

(b) Build a research base necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of such programs; and

(c) Develop collaborative relationships between four-year institutions and local school districts on innovative models for teacher education.

(2) Field based master's degrees for teachers shall:

(a) Assure expertise in the art of teaching using the latest research; and

(b) Include advanced study in specific subject matter areas, or other areas of educational specialization.

(3) The pilot program shall provide for up to five grants to be awarded by the higher education coordinating board to local school districts or institutions of higher education. Special consideration shall be given to proposals that involve cooperatives formed by two or more school districts where teachers could be considered placebound.

(4) The proposals shall be developed by local advisory boards. The local advisory boards shall include representation from higher education institutions, local school districts, and classroom teachers. At least fifty percent of the membership shall be teachers. Local advisory boards and university faculty shall work with university professional education advisory boards and local education associations to develop proposals.

(5) Higher education participation is limited to institutions whose main campuses are located in the state of Washington.

(6) Proposals shall be submitted to the higher education coordinating board by August 1992, and shall document:

(a) Research on collegiality and peer coaching;

(b) Use of the latest teaching and student assessment research and technologies;

(d) Involvement of local teachers and other experts in the training process;

(e) Commitment of the local school district to the program;

(f) Support from Washington institutions of higher education for program development and implementation;

(g) Provision for formal evaluation of the project;

(h) Identification of an agreed upon fiscal agent; and

(i) Assurance and evidence of quality.

(7) A review committee is hereby established to make grant recommendations to the higher education coordinating board. Review committee composition shall be: Two participants from higher education institutions; two representatives of the superintendent of public instruction's office; two representatives of the state board of education; and one representative designated by the higher education coordinating board.

(8) The awards shall be granted by December 30, 1992.

(9) In granting the awards, the higher education coordinating board shall ensure that the proposed degrees provide graduate level education comparable in quality to that available at existing campus-based graduate programs.

(10) All proposals for local master's degrees for teachers involving public universities shall be approved by the higher education coordinating board pursuant to procedures established by RCW 28B.80.340.

(11) The higher education coordinating board shall submit an initial report on the program to the legislature by January 31, 1993.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund to the higher education coordinating board for the purposes outlined in section 1 of this act.