H-69                 _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1759

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Peery, Betrozoff, Crane and Winsley

Read first time 2/3/89 and referred to Committees on Education/Appropriations (2/10/89).

AN ACT Relating to educational staff; adding new sections to chapter 28A.100 RCW; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature recognizes that the education of our children is of the utmost importance.  We have considered many methods of improving the instruction of our children.  Although there are varying opinions of the optimum class size, there is a strong feeling that if students can receive instruction and assistance from better trained staff there is a positive influence on learning.  It is also true that as a state with a growing school population and an aging corps of teachers, the state cannot address all needs by adding teachers. In an attempt to provide better trained teachers the legislature has significantly revised the preparation programs for teachers. Now the state needs to be sure that other staff in our schools are trained and prepared to assist teachers in the education of our children.  Therefore, the educational staff diversification act is created.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     (1) The superintendent of public instruction may grant funds to educational service districts or school districts, or both, to develop a twenty-five hour training program for classroom assistants.

          (2) As used in this section, a "classroom assistant" is an individual, with at least a high school diploma or its equivalent, who assists teachers in the classroom with preparing materials, working with small groups, grading papers, and supervising of students at recess, in the lunchroom, on the bus, and in other ways as assigned by the classroom teachers.

          (3)  Districts shall submit an application outlining the content of the training and the number of classroom assistants and certificated instructional staff who will participate.  Training shall include, but not be limited to, a review of the rules and procedures of the school, operation of equipment, the psychology and development of children, and discipline policies and procedures.  The training shall be presented by the school district or educational service district before the first day of classroom duty for the classroom assistant.  Training shall also be provided to certificated instructional staff on methods of working with and supervising a classroom assistant.

          (4)  The training program shall be developed during the 1989-90 school year for implementation during the 1990-91 school year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     (1)   The superintendent of public instruction, the state board of education, the state apprenticeship training council, community colleges, and the higher education coordinating board shall develop a ninety unit educational paraprofessional associate of arts degree.

          (2) As used in this section, an "educational paraprofessional" is an individual who has completed an associate of arts degree in childhood education. The educational paraprofessional may be hired by a school district to assist certificated instructional staff in the direct instruction of children in small and large groups, individualized instruction, testing of children, recordkeeping, and preparation of materials.  The educational paraprofessional shall work under the direct supervision of instructional certificated staff.

          (3) The training program for an educational paraprofessional associate of arts degree shall include the general requirements for receipt of an associate of arts degree and training in the areas of introduction to childhood education, orientation to handicapped children, fundamentals of childhood education, creative activities for children, instructional materials for children, fine art experiences for children, the psychology of learning, introduction to education, child health and safety, child development and guidance, first aid, and a practicum in a school setting.

          (4)  The educational paraprofessional associate of arts degree shall be developed during the 1990-91 and 1991-92 school years for implementation during the 1992-93 school year.

          (5) In developing the program, consideration shall be given to transferability of credit earned in this program to teacher preparation programs at colleges and universities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     Sections 1 through 3 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.100 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     The sum of two million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the implementation of sections 2 and 3 of this act.