AN ACT Relating to professional development centers for teacher training; adding new sections to Title 28A RCW; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to Title 28A RCW to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent of public instruction, from appropriated funds, shall award grants to eligible school districts to facilitate the development of new or support existing professional development centers.

(2) A professional development center means a school district- based center established for one or more of the following purposes:

(a) To provide training in supervision skills for mentor teachers under the teacher assistance program under RCW 28A.67.240, cooperating teachers who supervise student teachers, and other certificated instructional or administrative staff who have supervisory responsibilities;

(b) To provide support and training for student teachers and beginning teachers;

(c) To provide support for mentor and cooperating teachers in their responsibilities to assist beginning, experienced, and student teachers;

(d) To provide training in evaluation skills and techniques for building principals;

(e) To provide training to educational staff associates assigned to provide support services to teachers;

(f) To provide training to teachers and principals to work effectively with parents and volunteers;

(g) To provide professional growth and development opportunities for experienced certificated staff;

(h) To provide access to post-graduate course offerings; and

(i) To provide training and support to members of professional education advisory boards of state board of education-approved preparation programs for teachers, administrators, and educational staff associates.

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

Grant applications shall include the following:

(1) Documentation that:

(a) The existing professional development center was developed and implemented jointly by at least one school district and at least one college or university; or

(b) The existing professional development center was developed and implemented jointly by at least one school district and the grant proposal indicates at least one college or university will become involved in the activities of the center; or

(c) The proposed professional development center was developed and will be implemented jointly by at least one school district and at least one college or university;

(2) Identified goals and objectives for the professional development center; and

(3) Information on how the professional development center will be evaluated for success in meeting the identified goals and objectives.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to Title 28A RCW to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules as necessary under chapter 34.05 RCW to carry out the purposes of sections 1 and 2 of this act. The rules shall include:

(a) Timelines for the submittal of grant applications and the selection of applicants for grant awards;

(b) Criteria for the selection of grant applicants for grant awards; and

(c) An evaluation at the end of the first year of operation of each professional development center. Subsequent evaluations shall be conducted biennially thereafter. The evaluation shall be conducted by a professional development center quality review team as determined by the superintendent of public instruction.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to Title 28A RCW to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction shall report biennially to the legislature and the governor on the operation of professional development centers established or supported through the grant program established under section 1 of this act. The first report shall be submitted by December 1, 1991.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The sum of five hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of this act.