AN ACT Relating to teachers; amending section 1, chapter 399, Laws of 1985 (uncodified); adding new sections to chapter 28A.67 RCW; repealing section 3, chapter 399, Laws of 1985 (uncodified); declaring an emergency; and providing an effective date.

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

Sec. 1. Section 1, chapter 399, Laws of 1985 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules to establish and operate a beginning teachers assistance ((~~pilot~~)) program ((to operate during the first year after this section takes effect for one hundred mentor teachers and during the second year after this section takes effect for up to one thousand mentor teachers. The results of the program shall be reported to the legislature not later than two and one-half years from the effective date of this section)). For the purposes of this section, the terms "mentor teachers" and "beginning teachers" may include any person possessing any one of the various certificates issued by the superintendent of public instruction under RCW 28A.70.005. The program shall provide for:

(1) Assistance by ((a)) mentor teachers who will provide a source of continuing and sustained support to ((a)) beginning teachers, both in and outside the classroom. ((~~Mentor teachers shall be selected so as to represent a reasonable distribution throughout all nine educational service districts~~)) The mentor teachers shall also periodically inform their principals respecting the contents of training sessions and other program activities;

(2) Stipends for mentor teachers which shall not be deemed compensation for the purposes of salary lid compliance under RCW 28A.58.095: PROVIDED, That stipends shall not be subject to the continuing contract provisions of this title ((~~28A RCW~~));

(3) Workshops for the training of mentor and beginning teachers;

(4) The use of substitutes to give ((~~the~~)) mentor teachers and beginning teachers opportunities to jointly observe and evaluate teaching situations and to give ((~~the~~)) mentor teachers opportunities to observe and assist ((~~the~~)) beginning teachers in the classroom; ((~~and~~))

(5) ((A)) Mentor teachers ((~~to be a~~)) who are superior teachers based on ((~~his or her~~)) their evaluations ((~~and to~~)) who hold ((a)) valid continuing certificates;

(6) Periodic consultation by the superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee with representatives of educational organizations and associations, including educational service districts and public and private institutions of higher education, for the purposes of improving communication and cooperation and program review; and

(7) A report to the legislature describing the results of the program to be delivered not later than December 31, 1987.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Section 1 of this act is added to chapter 28A.67 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28A.67 RCW to read as follows:

The legislature reaffirms that teachers are the fundamental element in assuring a quality education for the state's children and that this important role requires an assurance that those seeking to enter the profession are competent and well-trained.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28A.67 RCW to read as follows:

(1) No person may be admitted to a professional teacher preparation program within Washington state without first demonstrating that he or she is competent in the basic skills required for oral and written communication and computation.

(2) For persons applying for the 1990-91 school year and all subsequent school years, if standardized tests are used to determine competency, a passing grade shall be not less than the median score for all students taking that test who are admitted in that school year to that institution of higher education.

(3) The state board of education shall adopt rules to implement this section. The rules may provide for exceptions to subsection (2) of this section for cause.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 28A.67 RCW to read as follows:

Commencing January 1, 1990, prospective teachers completing a professional teacher preparation program shall be required to pass an exit examination before being granted official certification by the state board of education. The examination shall test knowledge and competence in subjects including but not limited to instructional skills, classroom management, and pupil discipline. The examination shall consist primarily of essay questions but may consist of some objective questions. The state board of education shall adopt a uniform state exit examination and shall establish such rules as may be necessary to implement this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 28A.67 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Each candidate for teacher certification shall be endorsed in one or more subject matters or teacher specializations appropriate to the elementary and/or secondary levels.

(2) The state board of education shall, no later than March 15, 1988, adopt rules authorizing specific written examinations and qualifying scores which will authorize the granting of endorsements in grade levels and subject areas in lieu of course work.

(3) The state board of education shall, no later that January 1, 1990, issue to the legislature a recommendation as to whether all teacher candidates should be required to pass a written subject matter examination. The board shall, before making its recommendation, administer the subject matter examinations as may be necessary to a sample number of teacher candidates who qualify to receive endorsements on the basis of other criteria. The results of such tests shall be made available to the legislature.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Section 3, chapter 399, Laws of 1985 (uncodified) is hereby repealed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect June 15, 1987.