BILL REQ. #:  H-3349.1 

Read first time 01/17/14.   Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

     AN ACT Relating to recognizing military training for purposes of the state salary schedule for certificated instructional staff; amending RCW 28A.415.020 and 28A.415.023; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that members of the armed forces and armed forces reserves receive high quality training during the course of their military service. Much of this training is recognized as equivalent to courses and credits from institutions of higher education. Since 1945, the American council on education has thoroughly examined all forms of military training and made recommendations regarding the awarding of equivalent college credit. The legislature intends also to recognize military training that pertains to an individual's current assignment for purposes of the state salary allocation schedule for certificated instructional staff.

Sec. 2   RCW 28A.415.020 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 18 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Certificated personnel shall receive for each ten clock hours of approved in-service training attended the equivalent of a one credit college quarter course on the salary schedule developed by the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee.
     (2) Certificated personnel shall receive for each ten clock hours of approved continuing education earned, as continuing education is defined by rule adopted by the professional educator standards board, the equivalent of a one credit college quarter course on the salary schedule developed by the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee.
     (3) Certificated personnel shall receive for each forty clock hours of participation in an approved internship with a business, an industry, or government, as an internship is defined by rule of the professional educator standards board in accordance with RCW 28A.415.025, the equivalent of a one credit college quarter course on the salary schedule developed by the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee.
     (4) An approved in-service training program shall be a program approved by a school district board of directors, which meet standards adopted by the professional educator standards board, and the development of said program has been participated in by an in-service training task force whose membership is the same as provided under RCW 28A.415.040, or a program offered by an education agency approved to provide in-service for the purposes of continuing education as provided for under rules adopted by the professional educator standards board, or both.
     (5) Clock hours eligible for application to the salary schedule developed by the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee as described in subsections (1) and (2) of this section, shall be those hours acquired after August 31, 1987. Clock hours eligible for application to the salary schedule as described in subsection (3) of this section shall be those hours acquired after December 31, 1995.
     (6) In-service training or continuing education in first peoples' language, culture, or oral tribal traditions provided by a sovereign tribal government participating in the Washington state first peoples' language, culture, and oral tribal traditions teacher certification program authorized under RCW 28A.410.045 shall be considered approved in-service training or approved continuing education under this section and RCW 28A.415.023.
     (7) ((For the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years, application of credits or credit equivalents earned under this section after October 1, 2010, to the salary schedule developed by the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee is subject to any conditions or limitations contained in the omnibus operating appropriations act)) Certificated personnel shall receive credits on the salary schedule developed by the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee for military training as follows:
     (a) The content of the training must pertain to the individual's current assignment or expected assignment for the subsequent school year;
     (b) The training is documented on a military transcript or similar form issued by the department of defense or a branch of the United States armed forces;
     (c) The number of college quarter credits recognized for the training shall be as recommended by the military guide of the American council on education;
     (d) The training may have occurred either before or after the awarding of the individual's first bachelor's degree; and
     (e) The same training may not be used for both credits on the salary schedule and credits applied toward an academic degree awarded to the individual.

Sec. 3   RCW 28A.415.023 and 2012 c 35 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Credits earned by certificated instructional staff after September 1, 1995, shall be eligible for application to the salary schedule developed by the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee only if the course content:
     (a) Is consistent with a school-based plan for mastery of student learning goals as referenced in RCW 28A.655.110, the annual school performance report, for the school in which the individual is assigned;
     (b) Pertains to the individual's current assignment or expected assignment for the subsequent school year;
     (c) Is necessary to obtain an endorsement as prescribed by the Washington professional educator standards board;
     (d) Is specifically required to obtain advanced levels of certification;
     (e) Is included in a college or university degree program that pertains to the individual's current assignment, or potential future assignment, as a certified instructional staff;
     (f) Addresses research-based assessment and instructional strategies for students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and language disabilities when addressing learning goal one under RCW 28A.150.210, as applicable and appropriate for individual certificated instructional staff; or
     (g) Pertains to the revised teacher evaluation system under RCW 28A.405.100, including the professional development training provided in RCW 28A.405.106.
     (2) Credits earned for military training as provided under RCW 28A.415.020 must pertain to the individual's current assignment or expected assignment for the subsequent school year.
     (3) For the purpose of this section, "credits" mean college quarter hour credits and equivalent credits for approved in-service, approved continuing education, military training, or approved internship hours computed in accordance with RCW 28A.415.020.
     (((3))) (4) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules and standards consistent with the limits established by this section for certificated instructional staff.
     (((4) For the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years, application of credits or credit equivalents earned under this section after October 1, 2010, to the salary schedule developed by the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee is subject to any conditions or limitations contained in the omnibus operating appropriations act.))