AN ACT Relating to alternate teacher certification; amending RCW 28A.410.025 and 28A.150.410; adding new sections to chapter 28A.410 RCW; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. It is the intent of the legislature to facilitate a conditional opportunity for community members, including business and retired persons, to bring their expertise and work experiences into the classrooms in Washington to enrich the learning experience of students.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) A school district on behalf of an individual candidate may apply to the superintendent of public instruction for the issuance of an alternate teacher certificate.

(2) The superintendent of public instruction shall issue the alternate teacher certificate if the following requirements are met and documented:

(a) The individual holds a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education;

(b) The individual has at least five years' work experience relevant to the subject area or areas the school district desires the individual to teach;

(c) The school district superintendent has determined that the individual has sufficient knowledge or experience to teach a particular subject or subjects and has recommended the individual to the school board of directors for approval. The school district superintendent shall recommend to the school board of directors for approval individuals he or she determines has sufficient knowledge or experience to teach a particular subject or subjects;

(d) The individual meets the age and character requirements established by the state board of education for all certificated staff, including compliance with the background check through the Washington state patrol criminal investigation system and the federal bureau of investigation as required under RCW 28A.410.010;

(e) The individual passes the state certification assessment of basic skills in reading, writing, communications, and mathematics when it becomes available;

(f) The individual possesses a contract specifying the terms and conditions of employment in a school district of the state; and

(g) The individual takes the certification assessment of teaching knowledge when it becomes available, and the results are used in the development of the written plan of assistance required under subsection (4) of this section.

(3) Until the state certification assessment of basic skills under subsection (2)(e) of this section is available, the individual shall complete a test of basic skills recommended by the state board of education. The passing scores shall be determined by the local school board until such time as the state board of education has by rule adopted minimum passing scores.

(4)(a) Prior to beginning teaching under the alternate teacher certificate, the individual shall develop with the employing school district a written plan for training, supervision, guidance, and support which shall be provided by the district to the individual while he or she holds the alternate teacher certificate.

(b) During the first ten weeks of employment, the school district shall provide direct supervision or observation of the teacher with an alternate certificate to assure the teacher's instructional effectiveness and identify any professional development needs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The alternate teacher certificate allows the holder full authority to serve as a part-time or full-time teacher. The certificate shall be valid for not more than two years of full-time or part-time teaching or its equivalent.

(2) The alternate teacher certificate shall allow the holder to provide instructional services to students in any of the grades in middle school, junior high, and high school and teach only the subject or subjects approved by the local school board of directors and designated on the alternate teacher certificate.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) An individual desiring to teach beyond the expiration date of the alternate teacher certificate may apply to the superintendent of public instruction for an initial or residency teaching certificate. The state superintendent shall issue the individual an initial or residency certificate if the following requirements are met and documented:

(a) The individual has completed at least two school years of successful teaching experience based on the recommendations of the supervising principal and district superintendent and approved by the school board of directors;

(b) The individual has successfully passed the state certification assessments of subject knowledge when they become available; and

(c) The individual has successfully passed the state certification assessments of teaching knowledge when they become available.

(2) The state board of education may not require any other conditions than those specified under subsection (1) of this section to meet initial or residency certification requirements.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Through its authority under RCW 28A.305.130 to approve professional preparation programs in institutions of higher education, the state board of education shall ensure that prospective candidates for the alternative certification process under sections 1 through 4 of this act are permitted to challenge required college courses in the professional preparation program.

Sec. 6. RCW 28A.410.025 and 1969 ex.s. c 223 s 28A.67.010 are each amended to read as follows:

No person shall be accounted as a qualified teacher within the meaning of the school law who is not the holder of a valid teacher's certificate, alternate certificate issued under section 2 of this act, or permit or other limited certificate issued by ((~~lawful authority of this state~~)) the superintendent of public instruction pursuant to state law or the state board of education rules.

Sec. 7. RCW 28A.150.410 and 1997 c 141 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The legislature shall establish for each school year in the appropriations act a state-wide salary allocation schedule, for allocation purposes only, to be used to distribute funds for basic education certificated instructional staff salaries under RCW 28A.150.260.

(2) The superintendent of public instruction shall calculate salary allocations for state funded basic education certificated instructional staff by determining the district average salary for basic education and special education instructional staff using the salary allocation schedule established pursuant to this section.

(3) Beginning January 1, 1992, no more than ninety college quarter-hour credits received by any employee after the baccalaureate degree may be used to determine compensation allocations under the state salary allocation schedule and LEAP documents referenced in the biennial appropriations act, or any replacement schedules and documents, unless:

(a) The employee has a masters degree; or

(b) The credits were used in generating state salary allocations before January 1, 1992.

(4) In determining state allocations and salaries for individuals participating in the alternate certification program under section 2 of this act, an individual's salary shall be based on the state-wide salary allocation schedule for individuals with zero years of service and the individual's degree. Calculation of certificated years of service shall start from the date the individual is issued an initial or residency certificate and begins accumulating full-time or part-time professional educational employment.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Sections 2 through 5 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.410 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The alternative teacher certificate shall be available beginning the 1998-99 school year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.