H-472                _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2163

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Vekich, Heavey, Hargrove and Brekke

Read first time 2/27/89 and referred to Committee on Education.

AN ACT Relating to revision of teacher certification requirements; amending RCW 28A.04.174, 28A.04.176, 28A.04.178, and 28A.70.040; and repealing RCW 28A.70.042.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 216, chapter 525, Laws of 1987 and RCW 28A.04.174 are each amended to read as follows:

          The state board of education shall review and develop by January 15, 1990, standards which address the minimum professional educational requirements necessary for initial or professional certification for persons entering education from other fields, and for other persons who want to enter education.  The standards shall include:

          (1) An internship or field experience requirement that is coordinated with the state teacher assistance program as it relates to beginning teachers.  The board shall consider providing for a paid internship and, as necessary, recommend payment options to the legislature;

          (2) Completion of professional education coursework equivalent to that required for initial-level teacher certification and which may be taken as part of or in conjunction with a masters degree program ((required under RCW 28A.70.042)); and

          (3) Teaching experience as determined by the state board.

        Sec. 2.  Section 217, chapter 525, Laws of 1987 and RCW 28A.04.176 are each amended to read as follows:

          In developing the standards under RCW 28A.70.400 through 28A.70.408, 28A.70.040, ((28A.70.042,)) and 28A.04.170 through 28A.04.174, the state board of education shall review ways to strengthen program unit functions and processes to enhance cooperative agreements between public or private institutions of higher education and schools or school districts.

        Sec. 3.  Section 226, chapter 525, Laws of 1987 and RCW 28A.04.178 are each amended to read as follows:

          The state board of education and the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall review the provisions of the interstate agreement on qualifications of educational personnel under chapter 28A.93 RCW, and advise the governor and the legislature on which interstate reciprocity provisions will require amendment to be consistent with sections 212 through 214, 216, and 220 through 224 of this act by January 1, 1992.

        Sec. 4.  Section 212, chapter 525, Laws of 1987 and RCW 28A.70.040 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) The state board of education shall adopt rules providing that all individuals qualifying for an initial-level teaching certificate after August 31, 1992, shall possess a baccalaureate degree in the arts, sciences, and/or humanities and have fulfilled the requirements for teacher certification pursuant to RCW 28A.04.120 (1) and (2).  However, candidates for grades preschool through six certificates shall have fulfilled the requirements for a major as part of their baccalaureate degree.  If the major is in early childhood education, elementary education, or special education, the candidate must have at least thirty quarter hours or twenty semester hours in one academic field.

          (2) The state board of education shall study the impact of eliminating the major in education under subsection (1) of this section and submit a report to the legislature by January 15, 1990.  The report shall include a recommendation on whether the major in education under subsection (1) of this section should be eliminated.

          (3) The initial certificate shall be valid for ((two years.

          (4) Certificate holders may renew the certificate for a three-year period by providing proof of acceptance and enrollment in an approved masters degree program.  A second renewal, for a period of two years, may be granted upon recommendation of the degree-granting institution and if the certificate holder can demonstrate substantial progress toward the completion of the masters degree and that the degree will be completed within the two-year extension period.  Under no circumstances may an initial certificate be valid for)) a period of no more than seven years.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  Section 215, chapter 525, Laws of 1987 and RCW 28A.70.042 are each repealed.