BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to cooperating teachers; amending RCW 28A.415.105; adding a new section to chapter 28A.415 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 preparing future teachers is critical to the well-being of our state and nation. An essential component of teacher preparation is the opportunity for students in teacher preparation programs to learn from experienced classroom teachers. These teachers are able to provide advice and counsel based on the many lessons they have learned from their experience in the classroom.

The legislature recognizes the importance of actual classroom experience in the training of new teachers, and therefore intends to provide incentives to exceptional, experienced teachers to guide student teachers' classroom‑based learning experiences.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.415 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Salary stipends for cooperating teachers shall be paid through supplemental contracts under RCW 28A.400.200(4).

(2) The state board of education, in consultation with representatives of teachers and teacher preparation programs, shall establish a payment schedule that shall be used in determining the amount of salary stipends to be paid to cooperating teachers who assist student teachers enrolled in preparation programs in public and private institutions of higher education. The stipend shall be paid by the institution of higher education, and shall not result in additional tuition or fees that must be paid by the student teacher. In developing the schedule, the board shall consider the amount of tuition being paid to the institution of higher education and the amount of contact the student teacher has with institution of higher education personnel compared with the cooperating teacher for that term. The schedule shall reflect this ratio.

(3) The state board shall adopt the payment schedule by February 1, 1998, for implementation beginning September 1, 1998. The payment schedule shall be updated as needed, as determined by the state board.

Sec. 3. RCW 28A.415.105 and 1995 c 335 s 403 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 28A.415.125 through 28A.415.140.

(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. A cooperating teacher must be an experienced teacher with an exceptional teaching record, as evidenced by the above-average performance of students in that teacher's classroom.

(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.