S-1977               _______________________________________________

                                         SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 5266

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Gaspard, Bailey, Rinehart, Lee, Fleming, Johnson, Anderson, Kreidler, Benitz, Talmadge and Bauer)

Read first time 2/20/89.

AN ACT Relating to providing baccalaureate and masters degree equivalencies for certification of vocational instructors; and amending RCW 28A.70.040, 28A.70.042, and 28A.70.005.

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

        Sec. 1.  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, except as provided in this section, 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).  The state board of education shall develop and adopt rules establishing baccalaureate degree equivalency standards for certification of vocational instructors performing instructional duties and acquiring initial level certification after August 31, 1992.  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 more than seven years.

        Sec. 2.  Section 215, chapter 525, Laws of 1987 and RCW 28A.70.042 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The state board of education shall implement rules providing that all teachers performing instructional duties and acquiring professional level certificate status after August 31, 1992, shall possess, as a requirement of professional status, a masters degree in teaching, or a masters degree in the arts, sciences, and/or humanities.

(2) The state board of education shall develop and adopt rules establishing masters degree equivalency standards for vocational instructors performing instructional duties and acquiring professional level certification after August 31, 1992.