Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 11-20-081.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Amends WAC 181-78A-100 to provide for off-site reviews of approved preparation programs. Requires an institutional report to facilitate the off-site review.

     Hearing Location(s): The Inn at Gig Harbor, 3211 56th Street N.W., Gig Harbor, WA 98335, on May 10, 2012, at 8:30 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: May 10, 2012.

     Submit Written Comments to: David Brenna, Legislative and Policy Coordinator, P.O. Box 47236, Olympia, WA 98504, e-mail david.brenna@k12.wa.us, fax (360) 586-4548, by May 3, 2012.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact David Brenna by May 3, 2012, TTY (360) 664-3631 or (360) 725-6238.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Streamlines review process. Clarifies and makes technical changes.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: Clarifies requirements.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28A.410.210.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Name of Proponent: Professional educator standards board, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: David Brenna, P.O. Box 42736 [47236], Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 725-6238.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The proposed amendment does not have an impact on small business and therefore does not meet the requirements for a statement under RCW 19.85.030 (1) or (2).

     A cost-benefit analysis is required under RCW 34.05.328. A preliminary cost-benefit analysis may be obtained by contacting David Brenna, P.O. Box 47236, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 725-6238, fax (360) 586-3631, e-mail david.brenna@k12.wa.us.

April 3, 2012

David Brenna

Senior Policy Analyst

OTS-4701.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 12-02-028, filed 12/28/11, effective 1/28/12)

WAC 181-78A-100   Existing approved programs.   Chapter 181-78A WAC rules shall govern all policies related to programs upon adoption by the professional educator standards board, which shall provide assistance to programs in the revision of their existing programs.

     (((1) All professional education programs shall be reviewed for approval under the 1997 program approval standards of chapter 181-78A WAC by August 31, 2000. Colleges and universities may permit individuals accepted into teacher preparation programs on or before August 31, 2000, to obtain certification by meeting requirements of programs approved under approval standards described in chapter 181-78 WAC if the individuals complete the program on or before August 31, 2003, and the college or university verifies program completion to the superintendent of public instruction on or before December 31, 2003: Provided, That the professional educator standards board or its designee may waive this deadline on a case-by-case basis.

     (2) All principal/program administrator programs shall be reviewed for approval under the 2002 program approval standards of chapter 181-78A WAC by August 31, 2004. Colleges and universities may permit individuals accepted into principal/program administrator programs on or before August 31, 2004, to obtain a residency certificate by meeting requirements of programs approved under 1997 approval standards described in chapter 181-78A WAC if the individuals complete the program on or before August 31, 2006, and the college or university verifies program completion to the superintendent of public instruction on or before December 31, 2006. Provided, That the professional educator standards board or its designee may waive this deadline on a case-by-case basis.

     (3) All school counselor or school psychologist programs shall be approved under the 2004 program approval standards of chapter 181-78A WAC by August 31, 2005. Colleges and universities may permit individuals accepted into the school counselor or school psychologist programs on or before August 31, 2005, to obtain a residency certificate by meeting requirements of programs approved under the 1997 approval standards described in chapter 181-78A WAC if the individuals complete the program on or before August 31, 2007, and the college or university verifies program completion to the superintendent of public instruction on or before December 31, 2007. Provided that the professional educator standards board or its designee may waive this deadline on a case-by-case basis.

     (4) Individuals who completed a principal/program administrator program on or before August 31, 2004, shall be granted an initial certificate if the preparing college or university verifies completion by December 31, 2004. Individuals who complete an educational staff associate program on or before August 31, 2005, shall be granted an initial certificate if the preparing college or university verifies completion by December 31, 2005.

     (5) Institutions shall be given at least one year notification prior to a professional educator standards board review for compliance with these standards: Provided, That if an institution requests a visit with less than a year's notice, the professional educator standards board shall consider that request.

     (6))) (1) The professional educator standards board shall determine the schedule for such approval reviews and whether an on-site visit or other forms of documentation and validation shall be used for the purposes of granting approval under ((the 1997)) program approval standards. In determining the schedule for site visits, the board shall take into consideration the partnership agreement between the state and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) as such agreement relates to the NCATE accreditation cycle and allow NCATE accredited colleges/universities to follow the NCATE schedule for their state site visit. Non-NCATE accredited colleges/universities shall have a state approval site visit every five years. The professional educator standards board may require more frequent site visits at their discretion pursuant to WAC 181-78A-110(2).

     (((7))) (2) Each institution shall submit its program for review when requested by the professional educator standards board to ensure that the program meets the state's program approval standards ((and to provide assessment data relative to the performance standards to the professional educator standards board for the year prior to the site visit.)) as follows:

     (a) At least six months prior to a scheduled on-site visit, the institution((s)) shall ((follow professional educator standards board posted timelines to)) submit an institutional report that ((shall:

     (i) Describe how the program approval standards are met for each educator preparation program scheduled for review (NCATE reports may fulfill this requirement);

     (ii) Describe how "unmet" standards or program weaknesses, identified during the previous site visit, have been corrected;

     (iii) Describe major program(s) changes implemented since the last site visit;

     (iv) Summarize all WEST-E data since the last site visit;

     (v) Summarize all program completer survey data compiled since the last site visit;

     (vi) Include all professional education advisory board reports submitted since the last site visit;

     (vii) Summarize complaints related to the program(s) and actions taken to remedy the complaints; and

     (viii) Describe the criteria used by the program(s) to assess, in multiple ways over time, its candidates' knowledge and skills, including evidence of positive impact on student learning)) provides evidence and narrative, as needed, that addresses how the program approval standards are met for each preparation program undergoing review. Evidence shall include such data and information from the annual data submissions required per WAC 181-78A-255(2) as have been designated by the professional educator standards board as evidence pertinent to the program approval process.

     (b) The ((site visit)) institutional report shall be ((conducted)) reviewed by ((a)) an off-site team whose membership is composed of:

     (i) One member of the professional educator standards board;

     (ii) One peer institution representative;

     (iii) One individual with assessment expertise;

     (iv) Two K-12 practitioners with expertise related to the programs scheduled for review; and

     (v) A designated professional educator standards board staff member who shall serve as team leader.

     (vi) Substitutions, drawn from (b)(i) through (iv) of this subsection, may be assigned when individuals are not available. Additions to the team shall be drawn from (b)(i) through (iv) of this subsection when necessary. The professional educator standards board liaison for that institution may be present, but shall not serve in an evaluative role. All members, including substitutes, shall be trained.

     (c) The ((site visit shall be conducted in compliance with the protocol and process adopted and published by the professional educator standards board)) review of the off-site team shall identify additional evidence and clarifications that may be needed to provide adequate support for the institutional report.

     (d) The ((final site visit report and other appropriate documentation will be submitted to the professional educator standards board)) report of the off-site team shall be submitted to the institution, which shall provide an addendum to the institutional report no later than five weeks preceding the on-site review.

     (e) The on-site visit shall be conducted in compliance with the protocol and process adopted and published by the professional educator standards board. The team shall be comprised of members of the off-site review team.

     (f) The final site visit report and other appropriate documentation will be submitted to the professional educator standards board.

     (g) Institutions may submit a reply to the report within two weeks following receipt of the report. The reply may address issues for consideration, including a request for appeal per this subsection (g) ((of this section)), limited to factual errors, evidence that the review disregarded state standards, failed to follow state procedures for review, or failed to consider evidence that was available at the time of the review.

     (((f))) (h) In considering the report, the professional educator standards board may grant approval according to WAC 181-78A-110 and 181-78A-100(((6))) (1).

     (((g))) (i) Institutions may request a hearing in instances where it disagrees with the professional educator standards board's decision. The hearing will be conducted through the office of administrative hearings by an administrative law judge per chapter 34.05 RCW. The institution seeking a hearing will provide a written request to the professional educator standards board in accordance with WAC 10-08-035.

     (((8))) (3) Institutions seeking National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs, and National Association of School Psychologist accreditation may request from the professional educator standards board approval for concurrent site visits which would utilize the same documentation with the exception of material submitted by the institution to the state for the professional education advisory boards and the accountability standards.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.410.210. 12-02-028, § 181-78A-100, filed 12/28/11, effective 1/28/12; 10-08-017, § 181-78A-100, filed 3/29/10, effective 4/29/10; 08-16-005, § 181-78A-100, filed 7/23/08, effective 8/23/08; 06-24-082, § 181-78A-100, filed 12/5/06, effective 1/5/07; 06-14-010, § 181-78A-100, filed 6/22/06, effective 7/23/06. 06-02-051, recodified as § 181-78A-100, filed 12/29/05, effective 1/1/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.410.010. 05-15-052, § 180-78A-100, filed 7/12/05, effective 8/12/05; 05-04-056, § 180-78A-100, filed 1/28/05, effective 2/28/05; 04-21-038, § 180-78A-100, filed 10/15/04, effective 11/15/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.305.130 and 28A.410.010. 04-04-090, § 180-78A-100, filed 2/3/04, effective 3/5/04; 02-18-037, § 180-78A-100, filed 8/26/02, effective 9/26/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.305.130 (1) and (2). 00-09-049, § 180-78A-100, filed 4/14/00, effective 5/15/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.305.130 (1) and (2), 28A.410.010 and 28A.150.220(4). 99-01-174, § 180-78A-100, filed 12/23/98, effective 1/23/99.]

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