BILL REQ. #:  S-1396.2 

Read first time 02/08/2007.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.

     AN ACT Relating to professional teacher certification tuition reimbursement; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The educator tuition reimbursement program is created. The purpose of the program is to provide full tuition reimbursement to public school teachers who take college courses as a requirement for obtaining their professional certification, as required under RCW 28A.410.250. The program shall be administered by the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
     (2) With funds specifically appropriated for this purpose, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall provide full or partial tuition reimbursement to any teacher employed in the common school system of the state, subject to the following requirements:
     (a) For coursework completed at an institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016, reimbursement shall be based on actual tuition and fees paid by the teacher for the coursework;
     (b) For coursework completed at an institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.07.020(4), reimbursement shall be based on, and shall not exceed, an average of the tuition and fees charged for comparable coursework at the regional universities designated in RCW 28B.35.010; and
     (c) The coursework must apply toward professional certification requirements adopted by the state board of education.