H-4427              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1891

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Representatives Ebersole, Peery and Pruitt

Read first time 1/29/88 and referred to Committee on Education.

AN ACT Relating to teachers' salary credits for in-service training; amending RCW 28A.71.110; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.71 RCW.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 519, Laws of 1987 and RCW 28A.71.110 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) ((Certificated personnel shall receive for)) For the purposes of state salary allocations for certificated instructional staff, each ten clock hours of approved in-service training attended after August 31, 1987, shall be recognized as the equivalent of ((a)) one ((credit)) college quarter ((course)) credit on the salary schedule ((developed by the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee)) used for state allocations.

          (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 state board of education, the equivalent of a one credit college quarter course on the salary schedule developed by the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee.

          (3) An)) Approved in-service training ((program)) shall be a ((program)) course of instruction which:

(a) Is approved by a school district board of directors((, which meet standards adopted by the state board of education, and the development of said program has been participated in)) as applicable to the employee's job responsibilities and as consistent with the district's in-service training plans developed with participation by an in-service training task force ((whose membership is the same)) as provided under RCW 28A.71.210((, or a program));

(b) Is offered by an education agency approved by the state board of education to provide in-service for the purposes of continuing education ((as provided for under rules adopted by the state board of education, or both.

          (4) 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)) ;

(c) Includes at least three hours of instruction;

(d) Is not eligible for college credits; and

(e) Meets all requirements for continuing education courses under section 2 of this 1988 act and established by the state board of education.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.71 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The state board of education shall adopt rules for in- service courses to qualify as continuing education courses and shall approve agencies to conduct such courses.  Such agencies may include colleges, universities, school districts, educational service districts, the superintendent of public instruction, professional organizations of educators, and private schools.  Any approved agency shall have a committee or board of directors which shall review proposed courses and shall determine their compliance with the requirements of this section and any other requirements of the state board of education, prior to offering the course.

          (2) The state board of education shall establish at a minimum the following standards for in-service courses that qualify as continuing education courses:

          (a) The basis for determination of need for a particular in- service education course shall be documented.

          (b) The agency shall establish specific written objectives and intended goals before each course.

          (c) The content of each course shall include applicable current research or methods to apply established professional practices.

          (d) All courses shall be conducted by instructors with academic or professional experience that specifically qualifies them to teach the particular course.

          (e) Participants shall be asked to complete a written evaluation of a course when the course has ended.

          (f) The written evaluations shall be compiled and shall be reviewed by the committee or board of directors responsible for approving the continuing education course offerings of the agency.

          (g) The agency shall maintain records documenting participation and compliance with these and any other state requirements.  Such records shall be available for inspection as required by the superintendent of public instruction.

          (3) All approved in-service education agencies shall be audited by the superintendent of public instruction at least once every five years for compliance with the provisions of this section.