BILL REQ. #:  H-4505.1 

Read first time 01/21/10.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to expanding options for educator preparation and recruitment; amending RCW 28A.660.020 and 28B.76.230; reenacting and amending RCW 28A.660.040 and 28A.660.050; adding new sections to chapter 28A.410 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.76 RCW; and repealing RCW 28A.660.010, 28A.415.100, 28A.415.105, 28A.415.130, 28A.415.135, and 28A.415.140.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28A.410 RCW to read as follows:
     Beginning with the 2011-12 school year, all professional educator standards board-approved teacher preparation programs must administer to all preservice candidates the evidence-based assessment of teaching effectiveness adopted by the professional educator standards board. Candidates admitted to teacher preparation programs in the 2012-13 school year and thereafter must successfully pass this assessment. Assessment results from persons completing each preparation program must be reported annually by the professional educator standards board to the governor and the education and fiscal committees of the legislature by December 1st.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.410 RCW to read as follows:
     By September 30, 2010, the professional educator standards board shall review and revise teacher and administrator preparation program approval standards and proposal review procedures at the residency certificate level to ensure they are rigorous and appropriate standards for an expanded range of potential providers, including nonhigher education providers.
     Beginning September 30, 2010, the professional educator standards board must accept proposals for new providers of educator preparation programs. Proposals must be processed and considered by the board as expeditiously as possible.
     By September 1, 2011, all professional educator standards board-approved residency teacher preparation programs at institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016 must submit to the professional educator standards board a proposal to offer one or more of the alternative route programs that meet the requirements of RCW 28A.660.020 and 28A.660.040 or a summary of procedures that provide flexible completion opportunities for students to achieve a residency certificate.

Sec. 3   RCW 28A.660.020 and 2006 c 263 s 816 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) ((Each)) The professional educator standards board shall transition the alternative route partnership grant program from a separate competitive grant program to a preparation program model to be expanded among approved preparation program providers. Alternative routes are partnerships between professional educator standards board-approved preparation programs, Washington school districts, and other partners as appropriate.
     (2) Each prospective teacher preparation program provider, in cooperation with a Washington school district or consortia of school districts applying ((for the)) to operate alternative route certification program shall ((submit a)) include in its proposal to the Washington professional educator standards board ((specifying)):
     (a) The route or routes the partnership program intends to offer and a detailed description of how the routes will be structured and operated by the partnership;
     (b) The estimated number of candidates that will be enrolled per route;
     (c) An identification, indication of commitment, and description of the role of approved teacher preparation programs ((that are)) and partnering ((with the)) district or consortia of districts;
     (d) An assurance ((of)) that the district ((provision of)) or approved preparation program provider will provide adequate training for mentor teachers ((either through participation in a state mentor training academy or district-provided training that meets state-established mentor-training standards)) specific to the mentoring of alternative route candidates;
     (e) An assurance that significant time will be provided for mentor teachers to spend with the alternative route teacher candidates throughout the internship. Partnerships must provide each candidate with intensive classroom mentoring until such time as the candidate demonstrates the competency necessary to manage the classroom with less intensive supervision and guidance from a mentor;
     (f) A description of the rigorous screening process for applicants to alternative route programs, including entry requirements specific to each route, as provided in RCW 28A.660.040; and
     (g) The design and use of a teacher development plan for each candidate. The plan shall specify the alternative route coursework and training required of each candidate and shall be developed by comparing the candidate's prior experience and coursework with the state's new performance-based standards for residency certification and adjusting any requirements accordingly. The plan may include the following components:
     (i) A minimum of one-half of a school year, and an additional significant amount of time if necessary, of intensive mentorship during field experience, starting with full-time mentoring and progressing to increasingly less intensive monitoring and assistance as the intern demonstrates the skills necessary to take over the classroom with less intensive support. For route one and two candidates, before the supervision is diminished, the mentor of the teacher candidate at the school and the supervisor of the teacher candidate from the higher education teacher preparation program must both agree that the teacher candidate is ready to manage the classroom with less intensive supervision. For route three and four candidates, the mentor of the teacher candidate shall make the decision;
     (ii) Identification of performance indicators based on the knowledge and skills standards required for residency certification by the Washington professional educator standards board;
     (iii) Identification of benchmarks that will indicate when the standard is met for all performance indicators;
     (iv) A description of strategies for assessing candidate performance on the benchmarks;
     (v) Identification of one or more tools to be used to assess a candidate's performance once the candidate has been in the classroom for about one-half of a school year; ((and))
     (vi) A description of the criteria that would result in residency certification after about one-half of a school year but before the end of the program; and
     (vii) A description of how the district intends for the alternative route program to support its workforce development plan and how the presence of alternative route interns will advance its school improvement plans.
     (((2))) (3) To the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose, ((districts)) alternative route programs may apply for program funds to pay stipends to trained mentor teachers of interns during the mentored internship. The per intern amount of mentor stipend provided by state funds shall not exceed five hundred dollars.

Sec. 4   RCW 28A.660.040 and 2009 c 192 s 1 and 2009 c 166 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     ((Partnership grants funded)) Alternative route programs under this chapter shall operate one to four specific route programs. Successful completion of the program shall make a candidate eligible for residency teacher certification. ((For route one and two candidates,)) The mentor of the teacher candidate at the school and the supervisor of the teacher candidate from the ((higher education)) teacher preparation program must both agree that the teacher candidate has successfully completed the program. ((For route three and four candidates, the mentor of the teacher candidate shall make the determination that the candidate has successfully completed the program.))
     (1) ((Partnership grant programs seeking funds to operate)) Alternative route programs operating route one programs shall enroll currently employed classified instructional employees with transferable associate degrees seeking residency teacher certification with endorsements in special education, bilingual education, or English as a second language. It is anticipated that candidates enrolled in this route will complete both their baccalaureate degree and requirements for residency certification in two years or less, including a mentored internship to be completed in the final year. In addition, partnership programs shall uphold entry requirements for candidates that include:
     (a) District or building validation of qualifications, including one year of successful student interaction and leadership as a classified instructional employee;
     (b) Successful passage of the statewide basic skills exam((, when available)); and
     (c) Meeting the age, good moral character, and personal fitness requirements adopted by rule for teachers.
     (2) ((Partnership grant programs seeking funds to operate)) Alternative route programs operating route two programs shall enroll currently employed classified staff with baccalaureate degrees seeking residency teacher certification in subject matter shortage areas and areas with shortages due to geographic location. Candidates enrolled in this route must complete a mentored internship complemented by flexibly scheduled training and coursework offered at a local site, such as a school or educational service district, or online or via video-conference over the K-20 network, in collaboration with the partnership program's higher education partner. In addition, partnership grant programs shall uphold entry requirements for candidates that include:
     (a) District or building validation of qualifications, including one year of successful student interaction and leadership as classified staff;
     (b) A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. The individual's college or university grade point average may be considered as a selection factor;
     (c) Successful completion of the ((content test, once the state content test is available)) subject matter assessment required by RCW 28A.410.220(3);
     (d) Meeting the age, good moral character, and personal fitness requirements adopted by rule for teachers; and
     (e) Successful passage of the statewide basic skills exam((, when available)).
     (3) ((Partnership grant)) Alternative route programs seeking funds to operate route three programs shall enroll individuals with baccalaureate degrees, who are not employed in the district at the time of application. When selecting candidates for certification through route three, districts and approved preparation program providers shall give priority to individuals who are seeking residency teacher certification in subject matter shortage areas or shortages due to geographic locations. ((For route three only, the districts may include additional candidates in nonshortage subject areas if the candidates are seeking endorsements with a secondary grade level designation as defined by rule by the professional educator standards board. The districts shall disclose to candidates in nonshortage subject areas available information on the demand in those subject areas.)) Cohorts of candidates for this route shall attend an intensive summer teaching academy, followed by a full year employed by a district in a mentored internship, followed, if necessary, by a second summer teaching academy. In addition, partnership programs shall uphold entry requirements for candidates that include:
     (a) A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. The individual's grade point average may be considered as a selection factor;
     (b) Successful completion of the ((content test, once the state content test is available)) subject matter assessment required by RCW 28A.410.220(3);
     (c) External validation of qualifications, including demonstrated successful experience with students or children, such as reference letters and letters of support from previous employers;
     (d) Meeting the age, good moral character, and personal fitness requirements adopted by rule for teachers; and
     (e) Successful passage of statewide basic skills exams((, when available)).
     (4) ((Partnership grant programs seeking funds to operate)) Alternative route programs operating route four programs shall enroll individuals with baccalaureate degrees, who are employed in the district at the time of application, or who hold conditional teaching certificates or emergency substitute certificates. Cohorts of candidates for this route shall attend an intensive summer teaching academy, followed by a full year employed by a district in a mentored internship. If employed on a conditional certificate, the intern may serve as the teacher of record, supported by a well-trained mentor. In addition, partnership programs shall uphold entry requirements for candidates that include:
     (a) A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. The individual's grade point average may be considered as a selection factor;
     (b) Successful completion of the ((content test, once the state content test is available)) subject matter assessment required by RCW 28A.410.220(3);
     (c) External validation of qualifications, including demonstrated successful experience with students or children, such as reference letters and letters of support from previous employers;
     (d) Meeting the age, good moral character, and personal fitness requirements adopted by rule for teachers; and
     (e) Successful passage of statewide basic skills exams((, when available)).
     (5) Applicants for alternative route programs who are eligible veterans or national guard members and who meet the entry requirements for the alternative route program for which application is made shall be given preference in admission.

Sec. 5   RCW 28A.660.050 and 2009 c 539 s 3 and 2009 c 192 s 2 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for these purposes, the conditional scholarship programs in this chapter are created under the following guidelines:
     (1) The programs shall be administered by the higher education coordinating board. In administering the programs, the higher education coordinating board has the following powers and duties:
     (a) To adopt necessary rules and develop guidelines to administer the programs;
     (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 programs.
     (2) Requirements for participation in the conditional scholarship programs are as provided in this subsection (2).
     (a) The alternative route conditional scholarship program is limited to interns of ((the partnership grant)) professional educator standards board-approved alternative routes to teaching programs under RCW 28A.660.040. For fiscal year 2011, priority must be given to fiscal year 2010 participants in the alternative route partnership program. In order to receive conditional scholarship awards, recipients shall:
     (i) Be accepted and maintain enrollment in alternative certification routes through ((the partnership grant)) a professional educator standards board-approved program;
     (ii) Continue to make satisfactory progress toward completion of the alternative route certification program and receipt of a residency teaching certificate; and
     (iii) Receive no more than the annual amount of the scholarship, not to exceed eight thousand dollars, for the cost of tuition, fees, and educational expenses, including books, supplies, and transportation for the alternative route certification program in which the recipient is enrolled. 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.
     (b) The pipeline for paraeducators conditional scholarship program is limited to qualified paraeducators as provided by RCW 28A.660.042. In order to receive conditional scholarship awards, recipients shall:
     (i) Be accepted and maintain enrollment at a community and technical college for no more than two years and attain an associate of arts degree;
     (ii) Continue to make satisfactory progress toward completion of an associate of arts degree. This progress requirement is a condition for eligibility into a route one program of the alternative routes to teacher certification program for a mathematics, special education, or English as a second language endorsement; and
     (iii) Receive no more than the annual amount of the scholarship, not to exceed four thousand dollars, for the cost of tuition, fees, and educational expenses, including books, supplies, and transportation for the alternative route certification program in which the recipient is enrolled. The board may adjust the annual award by the average rate of tuition and fee increases at the state community and technical colleges.
     (c) The retooling to teach mathematics and science conditional scholarship program is limited to current K-12 teachers ((and individuals having an elementary education certificate but who are not employed in positions requiring an elementary education certificate as provided by RCW 28A.660.045)). In order to receive conditional scholarship awards:
     (i) Individuals currently employed as teachers shall pursue a middle level mathematics or science, or secondary mathematics or science endorsement; or
     (ii) Individuals who are certificated with an elementary education endorsement((, but not employed in positions requiring an elementary education certificate,)) shall pursue an endorsement in middle level mathematics or science, or both; and
     (iii) Individuals shall use one of the pathways to endorsement processes to receive a mathematics or science endorsement, or both, which shall include passing a mathematics or science endorsement test, or both tests, plus observation and completing applicable coursework to attain the proper endorsement; and
     (iv) Individuals shall receive no more than the annual amount of the scholarship, not to exceed three thousand dollars, for the cost of tuition, test fees, and educational expenses, including books, supplies, and transportation for the endorsement pathway being pursued.
     (3) The Washington professional educator standards board shall select individuals to receive conditional scholarships. In selecting recipients, preference shall be given to eligible veterans or national guard members.
     (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 who 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) The higher education coordinating board may deposit all appropriations, collections, and any other funds received for the program in this chapter in the future teachers conditional scholarship account authorized in RCW 28B.102.080.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   A new section is added to chapter 28A.410 RCW to read as follows:
     Beginning with the 2010 school year and annually thereafter, each educational service district, in cooperation with the professional educator standards board, must convene representatives from school districts within that region and professional educator standards board-approved educator preparation programs to review regional educator workforce data, make biennial projections of certificate staffing needs, and identify how recruitment and enrollment plans in educator preparation programs reflect projected need.

Sec. 7   RCW 28B.76.230 and 2005 c 258 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The board shall develop a comprehensive and ongoing assessment process to analyze the need for additional degrees and programs, additional off-campus centers and locations for degree programs, and consolidation or elimination of programs by the four-year institutions.
     (2) As part of the needs assessment process, the board shall examine:
     (a) Projections of student, employer, and community demand for education and degrees, including liberal arts degrees, on a regional and statewide basis;
     (b) Current and projected degree programs and enrollment at public and private institutions of higher education, by location and mode of service delivery; ((and))
     (c) Data from the workforce training and education coordinating board and the state board for community and technical colleges on the supply and demand for workforce education and certificates and associate degrees; and
     (d) Data from the professional educator standards board.
     (3) Every two years the board shall produce, jointly with the state board for community and technical colleges, the professional educator standards board, and the workforce training and education coordinating board, an assessment of the number and type of higher education and training credentials required to match employer demand for a skilled and educated workforce. The assessment shall include the number of forecasted net job openings at each level of higher education and training and the number of credentials needed to match the forecast of net job openings.
     (4) The board shall determine whether certain major lines of study or types of degrees, including applied degrees or research-oriented degrees, shall be assigned uniquely to some institutions or institutional sectors in order to create centers of excellence that focus resources and expertise.
     (5) The following activities are subject to approval by the board:
     (a) New degree programs by a four-year institution;
     (b) Creation of any off-campus program by a four-year institution;
     (c) Purchase or lease of major off-campus facilities by a four-year institution or a community or technical college;
     (d) Creation of higher education centers and consortia;
     (e) New degree programs and creation of off-campus programs by an independent college or university in collaboration with a community or technical college; and
     (f) Applied baccalaureate degree programs developed by colleges under RCW 28B.50.810.
     (6) Institutions seeking board approval under this section must demonstrate that the proposal is justified by the needs assessment developed under this section. Institutions must also demonstrate how the proposals align with or implement the statewide strategic master plan for higher education under RCW 28B.76.200.
     (7) The board shall develop clear guidelines and objective decision-making criteria regarding approval of proposals under this section, which must include review and consultation with the institution and other interested agencies and individuals.
     (8) The board shall periodically recommend consolidation or elimination of programs at the four-year institutions, based on the needs assessment analysis.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   A new section is added to chapter 28B.76 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The board must establish boundaries for service regions for institutions of higher education implementing professional educator standards board-approved educator preparation programs.
     (2) Based on the data in the assessment in RCW 28B.76.230, the board shall determine whether reasonable teacher preparation program access for prospective teachers is available in each region. If access is determined to be inadequate in a region, the institution of higher education responsible for the region shall submit a plan for meeting the access need to the board.
     (3) Partnerships with other teacher preparation program providers and the use of appropriate technology shall be considered. The board shall review the plan and, as appropriate, assist the institution in developing support and resources for implementing the plan.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:
     (1) RCW 28A.660.010 (Partnership grant program) and 2004 c 23 s 1 & 2001 c 158 s 2;
     (2) RCW 28A.415.100 (Student teaching centers -- Legislative recognition -- Intent) and 1991 c 258 s 1;
     (3) RCW 28A.415.105 (Definitions) and 2006 c 263 s 811, 1995 c 335 s 403, & 1991 c 258 s 2;
     (4) RCW 28A.415.130 (Allocation of funds for student teaching centers) and 2006 c 263 s 813 & 1991 c 258 s 7;
     (5) RCW 28A.415.135 (Alternative means of teacher placement) and 1991 c 258 s 8; and
     (6) RCW 28A.415.140 (Field experiences) and 1991 c 258 s 9.