Brief Description: Regarding educational guidelines for parents and educators of students with autism.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators Rasmussen, McAuliffe, Tom and Shin).

Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education
House Committee on Education
House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Education

Background: Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the federal government requires special education teachers to be highly qualified. "Highly qualified" means that the individual has met specific certification and licensure requirements. Washington State has adopted the federal standard. In addition, Washington also requires that special education teachers providing, designing, supervising, monitoring, or evaluating the provision of special education, possess substantial professional training. This requirement subjects a special education teacher to additional training requirements. However, under current law, neither IDEA nor Washington require teachers to receive instruction specific to autism awareness, and methods of teaching students with autism.

Summary: By September 1, 2008, subject to appropriated funds:

• The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) must print and distribute the Autism Guidebook (Guidebook) as developed by the Caring for Washington Individuals with Autism Task Force and make the Guidebook and other relevant materials available on the OSPI web site. OSPI must provide copies of the Guidebook to Educational Service Districts, school districts, and other interested parties who request copies. The Guidebook must include specified guidelines to address the unique needs of children with autism.
• OSPI, in collaboration with other specified organizations, must distribute information on child find responsibilities per IDEA to agencies, districts, and schools that participate in the location, evaluation, and identification of children who may be eligible for early intervention services or special education services.
• OSPI, in collaboration with specified organizations, must develop posters to be distributed to medical offices and clinics, grocery stores, and other public places with information on autism and contact information for services and support. These materials must be made available on the Internet.

By December 1, 2008, the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) and OSPI, in collaboration with other specified organizations, must develop recommendations for autism awareness instruction and methods of teaching students with autism for all educator preparation and professional development programs. The recommendations must be submitted to the Governor and the education committees of the Legislature and must be made available to school districts on OSPI's web site.

If approved by the Legislature, each school district must use the recommendations developed by OSPI to develop and adopt a school district policy regarding recommended and required professional development for teachers and appropriate classified staff by July 1, 2009.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      48   0
House      94   0   (House amended)
Senate      46   0   (Senate concurred)

Effective: June 12, 2008

Partial Veto Summary: The provisions requiring OSPI to print and distribute the Autism Guidebook by September 1, 2008, are removed. The requirement that PESB and OSPI, in collaboration with specified organizations, develop recommendations for autism awareness instruction for all educator preparation and professional development programs is removed. The requirement that each district use the recommendations to develop and adopt a school district policy regarding required teacher and classified staff training is removed.