S-3998.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6477

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington   57th Legislature        2002 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators McAuliffe, Finkbeiner and Winsley; by request of Governor Locke, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Board of Education and Professional Educator Standards Board)

READ FIRST TIME 02/07/2002.

Changing qualifications for public school principals and vice principals.

    AN ACT Relating to qualifications for public school principals and vice principals; and amending RCW 28A.400.100.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 28A.400.100 and 1977 ex.s. c 272 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    School districts may employ public school principals and/or vice principals to supervise the operation and management of the school to which they are assigned.  Such persons shall hold valid ((teacher and)) administrative certificates and shall hold or have held either valid teacher certificates or valid educational staff associate certificates.  Persons who hold or have held valid educational staff associate certificates must also have demonstrated successful school-based experience in an instructional role with students.  Persons whose certificates were revoked, suspended, or surrendered may not be employed as public school principals or vice principals.  In addition to such other duties as shall be prescribed by law and by the job description adopted by the board of directors, each principal shall:

    (1) Assume administrative authority, responsibility and instructional leadership, under the supervision of the school district superintendent, and in accordance with the policies of the school district board of directors, for the planning, management, supervision and evaluation of the educational program of the attendance area for which he or she is responsible.

    (2) Submit recommendations to the school district superintendent regarding appointment, assignment, promotion, transfer and dismissal of all personnel assigned to the attendance area for which he or she is responsible.

    (3) Submit recommendations to the school district superintendent regarding the fiscal needs to maintain and improve the instructional program of the attendance area for which he or she is responsible.

    (4) Assume administrative authority and responsibility for the supervision, counseling and discipline of pupils in the attendance area for which he or she is responsible.

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