S-1911

AN ACT Relating to student teaching centers; adding new sections to chapter 28A.415 RCW; creating a new section; and repealing RCW 28A.625.420.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (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. 2. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout sections 3 through 9 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. 3. (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. 4. 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. 5. The provisions of sections 3 and 4 of this act shall apply to sections 6 through 9 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. 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. 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. 7. Funds for the student teaching centers shall be allocated by the superintendent of public instruction among the educational service district regions on the basis of student teaching placements. The fiscal agent for each center shall be either an educational service district or a state institution of higher education. Prospective 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. 8. The student teaching centers shall be an alternative means of placing teachers into school districts throughout the state. Nothing in sections 1 through 9 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. 9. 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.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. 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 1 through 9 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. RCW 28A.625.420 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 10 s 7 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. Sections 1 though 10 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.415 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. 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.