AN ACT Relating to teachers training teachers; amending RCW 28A.67.240; adding new sections to Title 28A RCW; creating new sections; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that increased cooperation and coordination between institutions of higher education and school districts is necessary as it relates to the induction of new staff into the profession of teaching. The legislature further finds that an increase in the level of such cooperation and coordination in selecting, training, and supervising outstanding "cooperating" teachers, and the development of new school and university partnerships, will be beneficial to the teaching profession, and will enhance the ability of all new teachers to perform at a more competent level during their initial teaching experience. The teachers training teachers program is hereby created to provide mentor teachers for all beginning teachers during their first year of teaching, and to provide cooperating teachers for all student teachers during their student teaching internship. The legislature believes that the teachers training teachers program will further enhance the teaching profession and enable teachers to assume more responsibility and accountability for their professional work including the performance of their students.

PART I

TEACHER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Sec. 101. Section 1, chapter 399, Laws of 1985 as amended by section 1, chapter 507, Laws of 1987 and RCW 28A.67.240 are each amended to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules to establish and operate a teacher assistance program. For the purposes of this section, the terms "mentor teachers," "beginning teachers," and "experienced 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 mentor teachers who will provide a source of continuing and sustained support to beginning teachers, or experienced teachers, or both, both in and outside the classroom. A mentor teacher may not be involved in evaluations under RCW 28A.67.065 of a teacher who receives assistance from said mentor teacher under the teacher assistance program established under this chapter. ((~~The mentor teachers shall also periodically inform their principals respecting the contents of training sessions and other program activities~~)) Mentor teachers shall collaborate with their school principal respecting the support, training, and assistance they provide under this program;

(2) ((Stipends for mentor teachers and beginning 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;

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

((~~(4)~~)) (3) The use of substitutes to give mentor teachers, beginning teachers, and experienced teachers opportunities to jointly observe and evaluate teaching situations and to give mentor teachers opportunities to observe and assist beginning and experienced teachers in the classroom;

((~~(5)~~)) (4) Mentor teachers who are superior teachers based on their evaluations, pursuant to chapter 28A.67 RCW, and who hold valid continuing certificates;

((~~(6)~~)) (5) Mentor teachers shall be selected by the district. If a bargaining unit, certified pursuant to RCW 41.59.090 exists within the district, classroom teachers representing the bargaining unit shall participate in the mentor teacher selection process;

((~~(7)~~)) (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

((~~(8) A report to the legislature describing the results of the program to be delivered not later than December 31, 1987~~)) (7) Stipends shall be provided for mentor teachers by the state at the rate of one thousand dollars per nine week quarter, or fraction thereof, biennially adjusted for inflation. These stipends shall be paid through supplemental contracts. The state operating appropriations act shall provide such funds as are necessary for the required number of mentor teachers to serve all first-year certificated instructional employees, and for such other numbers of experienced teachers who need assistance and hold an initial certificate, as may be funded in the state operating appropriations act.

(8) Workshops, use of substitutes, and stipends for beginning and mentor teachers for attending workshops are subject to appropriations in the state operating appropriations act.

PART II

STUDENT TEACHER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

NEW SECTION. Sec. 201. STUDENT TEACHER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules to establish and operate a student teacher assistance program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 202. COOPERATING TEACHERS. Cooperating teachers shall be appointed by school districts in a joint selection process with the institutions of higher education, and shall hold a professional certificate. Districts and institutions of higher education shall seek advice from teachers, administrators, and faculty in the selection of persons to be cooperating teachers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 203. ASSISTANCE BY COOPERATING TEACHERS. All student teacher interns from a regionally accredited institution of higher education whose professional education preparation program has been approved by the state board of education shall, subject to the rules adopted by the superintendent of public instruction, be provided a cooperating teacher for up to two ten week quarters. The cooperating teacher shall provide a source of continuing and sustained assistance, and training and support, both in and out of the classroom. A cooperating teacher shall be involved in evaluations and recommendations to the institutions of higher education respecting the competency of the student teacher intern. Cooperating teachers shall collaborate with their school principals respecting the support, training, and assistance they provide under this program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 204. STIPENDS FOR COOPERATING TEACHERS. Stipends shall be provided for cooperating teachers by the state at the rate of one thousand dollars per ten week quarter, or fraction thereof, biennially adjusted for inflation. These stipends shall be paid through supplemental contracts. The state operating appropriations act shall provide such funds as are necessary for the required number of cooperating teachers to serve all eligible student teacher interns.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 205. ASSISTANCE FROM THE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. The institutions of higher education shall, in consultation with the superintendent of public instruction, provide workshops for training cooperating teachers, subject to appropriations in the state operating appropriations act. Assistance from current and former cooperating and mentor teachers shall also be sought in preparing and providing the training. Periodic consultation shall be made with representatives of educational organizations and associations, including educational service districts, for the purposes of improving communication and cooperation, and program design and review.

PART III

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW SECTION. Sec. 301. The process for selection of mentor and cooperating teachers shall be subject to RCW 41.59.090.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 302. Subheadings and section headings as used in sections 201 through 205 of this act do not constitute any part of the law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 303. Sections 201 through 205 and 301 of this act are each added to Title 28A RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 304. This act shall take effect July 1, 1991.