S-394                 _______________________________________________

 

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5312

                        _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

 

By Senators Bailey, Metcalf, Rinehart and Lee

 

 

Read first time 1/20/89 and referred to Committee on   Education.

 

 


AN ACT Relating to education; affecting grade level certification; amending RCW 28A.70.040; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.70 RCW.

 

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 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)) eight 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.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.70 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The state board of education shall review its provisions relating to the certification of teachers and, as necessary and appropriate, develop requirements for the certification of teachers for middle level grades.

          (2) The state board of education shall complete the review and development of new requirements, if any, not later than May 31, 1990.

          (3) This section shall expire on June 30, 1990.