H-2545.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1416

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Mulliken, Romero, Talcott, Clements, Johnson, Costa, Wolfe, Mielke and Dunn)

Read first time 03/05/97.

Recognizing degrees in deaf education from a program approved by the council on education of the deaf.

    AN ACT Relating to recognizing teaching degrees in deaf education from a program approved by the council on education of the deaf; adding a new section to chapter 28A.410 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that an opportunity exists to improve the overall educational development of deaf and hard of hearing children by increasing access to teachers who have been trained at a college or university approved by the council on education of the deaf.  Educators who received teacher training in a program for the deaf and hard of hearing are sensitive to the needs of deaf and hard of hearing students and are able to provide appropriate strategies to assist students in reacting and interacting with their environment.  The legislature further finds that it is necessary to provide deaf and hard of hearing students with greater learning opportunities to develop the unique strategies and perceptions shared in deaf culture and to optimize their potential in today's world.  It is the legislature's intent to increase these opportunities by eliminating identified barriers to educators who are uniquely qualified to instruct students who are deaf and hard of hearing.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.410 RCW to read as follows:

    In establishing rules for certification, the state board of education shall waive the special education endorsement requirements for applicants who possess a baccalaureate or master's degree in deaf education from a teacher training program approved by the council on education of the deaf, and who intend to provide instruction to deaf or hard of hearing children.

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