AN ACT Relating to the governor's graduate teacher and principal fellowship program; amending RCW 28B.80.360; adding a new chapter to Title 28B RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

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

Sec. 1. Section 7, chapter 370, Laws of 1985 as amended by section 20, chapter 136, Laws of 1986 and RCW 28B.80.360 are each amended to read as follows:

The board shall perform the following administrative responsibilities:

(1) Administer the programs set forth in the following statutes: Chapter 28A.58 RCW (Washington scholars); chapter 28B.04 RCW (displaced homemakers); chapter 28B.85 RCW (degree-granting institutions); RCW 28B.10.210 through 28B.10.220 (blind students subsidy); RCW 28B.10.800 through 28B.10.824 (student financial aid program); chapter 28B.12 RCW (work study); RCW 28B.15.067 through 28B.15.076 (educational costs for establishing tuition and fees); RCW 28B.15.543 (tuition waivers for Washington scholars); RCW 28B.15.760 through 28B.15.766 (math and science loans); RCW 28B.80.150 through 28B.80.170 (student exchange compact); RCW 28B.80.240 (student aid programs); ((~~and~~)) RCW 28B.80.210 (federal programs); and chapter 28B.-- RCW (sections 2 through 11 of this act) (governor's graduate teacher and principal fellowship program).

(2) Study the delegation of the administration of the following: RCW 28B.65.040 through 28B.65.060 (high-technology board); chapter 28B.85 RCW (degree-granting institutions); RCW 28B.80.150 through 28B.80.170 (student exchange compact programs); RCW 28B.80.200 (state commission for federal law purposes); RCW 28B.80.210 (enumerated federal programs); RCW 28B.80.230 (receipt of federal funds); RCW 28B.80.240 (student financial aid programs); RCW 28A.58.824 through 28A.58.830 (Washington scholars); RCW 28B.15.543 (Washington scholars); RCW 28B.04.020 through 28B.04.110 (displaced homemakers); RCW 28B.10.215 and 28B.10.220 (blind students); RCW 28B.10.790, 28B.10.792, and 28B.10.802 through 28B.10.844 (student financial aid); RCW 28B.12.040 through 28B.12.070 (student work study); RCW 28B.15.100 (reciprocity agreement); RCW 28B.15.730 through 28B.15.736 (Oregon reciprocity); RCW 28B.15.750 through 28B.15.754 (Idaho reciprocity); RCW 28B.15.756 and 28B.15.758 (British Columbia reciprocity); and RCW 28B.15.760 through 28B.15.764 (math/science loans). The board shall report the results of its study and recommendations to the legislature.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Board" means the higher education coordinating board.

(2) "Institutions of higher education" shall mean (a) any public university or college operated by the state of Washington or any political subdivision thereof or (b) any other university, college, school, or institute in the state of Washington offering instruction beyond the high school level which is a member institution of an accrediting association recognized by rule of the board for the purposes of this section. Any institution, branch, extension or facility operating within the state of Washington which is affiliated with an institution operating in another state must be a separately accredited member institution of the accrediting association. No institution of higher education shall be eligible to participate in a student financial aid program unless it agrees to and complies with program rules adopted under RCW 28B.10.822.

(3) "Program" means the governor's graduate teacher and principal fellowship program.

(4) "Fellowship" means a conditional scholarship or loan that is forgiven in whole or in part if the recipient renders service as a teacher in the public or private schools of this state for five or more years after receiving the fellowship.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The governor's graduate teacher and principal fellowship program is created. The program shall provide fellowship awards in recognition of the accomplishments of eligible graduate students pursuing a master's degree leading to initial or professional teacher certification.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The board shall develop and administer the program and shall be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The board shall appoint an advisory committee comprised of teachers, school principals, and leaders in business, the social service field, government, and higher education. The advisory committee shall assist the board in:

(1) Establishing guidelines for the administration of the program;

(2) Developing eligibility criteria;

(3) Developing a selection process; and

(4) Selecting fellowship recipients.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The program shall be designed to:

(1) Provide superior teaching candidates with financial assistance while they pursue a master's degree leading to an initial or professional certificate;

(2) Increase the number of underrepresented minorities becoming teachers;

(3) Reward scholastic and professional achievement;

(4) Provide an incentive to students who are committed to becoming teachers; and

(5) Encourage colleges and universities to identify students with the potential to be outstanding teachers who qualify for the program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. (1) Fellowships available through the program shall include:

(a) Fellowships for graduate students enrolled full-time in a master's in teaching degree program leading to an initial teacher's certificate; and

(b) Fellowships for students enrolled in an approved master's degree program leading to a professional teacher's certificate.

(2) Up to one hundred fellowships shall be made available beginning in the 1990-91 school year as specified in the appropriations act for eligible graduate students enrolled in a master's in teaching degree program.

(3) Up to one hundred fifty fellowships shall be made available beginning in the 1990-91 school year as specified in the appropriations act for eligible graduate students enrolled in an approved master's degree program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. (1) The board, in cooperation with an advisory committee, shall establish eligibility criteria and select fellowship recipients.

(2) Eligibility criteria shall require that recipients:

(a) Be Washington residents;

(b) Have potential ability in classroom teaching if seeking initial certificates;

(d) Have demonstrated academic excellence in undergraduate studies;

(e) Be admitted to a master's in teaching degree program or an approved master's degree program; and

(f) For individuals pursuing approved master's degree programs, provide evidence of recent employment in a Washington public or private P-12 school system.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. Each fellowship award shall specify:

(1) The amount of the award and shall apply to a total of one year of attendance, as defined by the institution of higher education the student is attending;

(2) That the use of the fellowship shall be subject to the various academic requirements, disciplinary standards, and other requirements and standards related to attendance and graduation established by the institution of higher education;

(3) That a fellowship recipient shall not be eligible to receive more than one award;

(4) That an award shall not exceed fifteen thousand dollars; and

(5) That, except in very special circumstances, recipients agree to register as full-time graduate students. In those very special circumstances when the board permits a recipient to register on a part-time basis, the board may grant a partial award.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. (1) Participants in the program incur an obligation to repay the fellowship, with interest, unless they teach for five years in the schools of the state of Washington, under rules adopted by the board.

(2) The terms of the repayment, including deferral of the interest, shall be consistent with the terms of the federal guaranteed loan program. However, the board may adopt deferments for special circumstances, including maternity leaves.

(3) The period for repayment shall be ten years, with payments accruing monthly or quarterly commencing nine months from the date the participant completes or discontinues the course of study.

(4) Twice the entire principal and interest of each payment shall be forgiven for each payment period in which the participant teaches in a school until the entire repayment obligation is satisfied or the borrower ceases to teach at a school in this state. Should the participant cease to teach at a school in this state before the participant's repayment obligation is completed, payments on the unsatisfied portion of the principal and interest shall begin the next payment period and continue until the remainder of the participant's repayment obligation is satisfied.

(5) The board is responsible for collection of repayments made under this section and shall exercise due diligence in such collection, maintaining all necessary records to insure that maximum repayments are made. Collection and servicing of repayments under this section shall be pursued using the full extent of the law, including wage garnishment if necessary, and shall be performed by entities approved for such servicing by the Washington student loan guaranty association or its successor agency. The board is responsible to forgive all or parts of such repayments under the criteria established in this section and shall maintain all necessary records of forgiven payments.

(6) Receipts from the payment of principal or interest or any other subsidies to which the board as administrator is entitled, which are paid by or on behalf of participants under this section, shall be deposited with the board and shall be used to cover the costs of granting the fellowships, maintaining necessary records, and making collections under subsection (5) of this section. The board shall maintain accurate records of these costs, and all receipts beyond those necessary to pay such costs shall be used to grant fellowships to eligible students.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. Sections 2 through 10 of this act shall expire on June 30, 1995.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. Before the 1990 legislative session, the governor may recommend the inclusion of principals in this program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. Sections 2 through 11 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 28B RCW.