S-707                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5054

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State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Rinehart, Bailey and Niemi

Read first time 1/11/89 and referred to Committee on Education.

AN ACT Relating to teacher recruitment; and adding new sections to chapter 28A.67 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that it is important to have a teaching force that reflects the rich diversity of the students served in the public schools.  The legislature further finds that certain groups, as characterized by ethnic background, are traditionally underrepresented in the teaching profession in the state of Washington and that the ethnic diversity of the student population in the state of Washington is increasing.  The legislature intends to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups entering our teaching force.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     (1) The Washington state minority teacher recruitment program is established.  The program shall be administered by the state board of education.  The state board of education shall consult with the higher education coordinating board, representatives of institutions of higher education, education organizations having an interest in teacher recruitment issues, the superintendent of public instruction, the state board for community college education, the department of employment security, and the state board of vocational education within the office of the governor.  The program shall be designed to recruit future teachers from students in the targeted groups who are in the ninth through twelfth grades and from adults in the targeted groups who have entered other occupations.

          (2) The program shall include the following:

          (a) Encouraging students in targeted groups in grades nine through twelve to acquire the academic and related skills necessary to prepare for the study of teaching at an institution of higher education;

          (b) Promoting teaching career opportunities to develop an awareness of opportunities in the education profession;

          (c) Providing opportunities for students to experience the application of regular high school course work to activities related to a teaching career; and

          (d) Providing for increased cooperation among institutions of higher education including community colleges, the superintendent of public instruction, the state board of education, and local school districts in working toward the goals of the program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The superintendent of public instruction may grant funds, from moneys appropriated for the purpose of the Washington state minority teacher recruitment program, to selected institutions of higher education and selected school districts to assist in the development and implementation of the teacher recruitment program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     Sections 1 through 3 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.67 RCW.