BILL REQ. #:  S-3814.1 

Read first time 01/09/2006.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to preparing bilingual and special education teachers; amending RCW 28A.660.050 and 28B.102.080; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that there is a considerable shortage of qualified, certificated teachers in the areas of bilingual education and special education. The lack of these teachers threatens the quality of education of a significant number of students in our schools. The legislature further finds it will require concerted efforts to counter these deficits and to meet the growing demand for such teachers. The legislature intends to address this by using the proven successful strategy of recruiting classified public school employees who have the explicit interest, commitment, and life experience to teach in these areas.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) A demonstration project is created to assist classified public K-12 school employees to earn a teaching certificate with an endorsement for bilingual education or special education. The project shall provide conditional scholarships through either the future teachers conditional scholarship program and loan repayment program in accordance with chapter 28B.102 RCW or one of the alternative routes to teacher certification in accordance with chapter 28A.660 RCW.
     (2) The higher education coordinating board shall provide the legislature and governor with findings about the impact of this demonstration project on persons entering the teaching profession in the shortage areas of bilingual education and special education by no later than January 2008.

Sec. 3   RCW 28A.660.050 and 2004 c 23 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     The alternative route conditional scholarship program is created under the following guidelines:
     (1) The program shall be administered by the higher education coordinating board. In administering the program, the higher education coordinating board has the following powers and duties:
     (a) To adopt necessary rules and develop guidelines to administer the program;
     (b) To collect and manage repayments from participants who do not meet their service obligations; and
     (c) To accept grants and donations from public and private sources for the program.
     (2) Participation in the alternative route conditional scholarship program is limited to interns of the partnership grant programs under RCW 28A.660.040. The Washington professional educator standards board shall select interns to receive conditional scholarships.
     (3) In order to receive conditional scholarship awards, recipients shall be accepted and maintain enrollment in alternative certification routes through the partnership grant program, as provided in RCW 28A.660.040. Recipients must continue to make satisfactory progress towards completion of the alternative route certification program and receipt of a residency teaching certificate.
     (4) For the purpose of this chapter, a conditional scholarship is a loan that is forgiven in whole or in part in exchange for service as a certificated teacher employed in a Washington state K-12 public school. The state shall forgive one year of loan obligation for every two years a recipient teaches in a public school. Recipients that fail to continue a course of study leading to residency teacher certification or cease to teach in a public school in the state of Washington in their endorsement area are required to repay the remaining loan principal with interest.
     (5) Recipients who fail to fulfill the required teaching obligation are required to repay the remaining loan principal with interest and any other applicable fees. The higher education coordinating board shall adopt rules to define the terms for repayment, including applicable interest rates, fees, and deferments.
     (6) To the extent funds are appropriated for this specific purpose, the annual amount of the scholarship is the annual cost of tuition; fees; and educational expenses, including books, supplies, and transportation for the alternative route certification program in which the recipient is enrolled, not to exceed eight thousand dollars. The board may adjust the annual award by the average rate of resident undergraduate tuition and fee increases at the state universities as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.
     (7) The higher education coordinating board may deposit all appropriations, collections, and any other funds received for the program in this chapter in the student loan account authorized in RCW 28B.102.060.
     (8) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, the funds provided for the demonstration project created in section 2 of this act may be distributed in accordance with the rules of the alternative route conditional scholarship program, as determined appropriate by the higher education coordinating board in consultation with the professional educators standards board.

Sec. 4   RCW 28B.102.080 and 2004 c 58 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The future teachers conditional scholarship account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. An appropriation is not required for expenditures of funds from the account. The account is not subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW except for moneys used for program administration.
     (2) The board shall deposit in the account all moneys received for the program. The account shall be self-sustaining and consist of funds appropriated by the legislature for the future teachers conditional scholarship and loan repayment program, private contributions to the program, and receipts from participant repayments. Beginning July 1, 2004, the board shall also deposit into the account: (a) All funds from the institution of higher education loan account that are traceable to any conditional scholarship program for teachers or prospective teachers established by the legislature before June 10, 2004; and (b) all amounts repaid by individuals under any such program.
     (3) Expenditures from the account may be used solely for conditional loans and loan repayments to participants in the program established by this chapter and costs associated with program administration by the board.
     (4) Disbursements from the account may be made only on the authorization of the board.
     (5) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, the funds provided for the demonstration project created in section 2 of this act may be distributed in accordance with the rules of the future teachers' conditional scholarship and loan repayment program, as determined appropriate by the higher education coordinating board in consultation with the professional educators standards board.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   The sum of one million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, from the general fund to the higher education coordinating board for the purposes of this act.