PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR

[Filed January 2, 2024, 12:01 p.m.]

Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 179-03-020 Paraeducator minimum employment requirements.

Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Presently, RCW 28A.413.040 Minimum employment requirements, and WAC 179-03-020 Paraeducator minimum employment requirements, are out of alignment.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: The RCW reflects the expanded assessments as a result of the law change, but the WAC still lists education testing service paraeducator assessment as the only assessment option. Filing an expedited rule change for WAC 179-03-020 Paraeducator minimum employment requirements, will bring RCW and WAC around minimum employment requirements into agreement.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28A.413.040.

Statute Being Implemented: RCW 28A.413.040.

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: Tristan Wiley, P.O. Box 47236, 600 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7236, 564-233-1255; Implementation: Fernanda Diaz, P.O. Box 47236, 600 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7236, 360-819-3662; and Enforcement: Erica Hernandez-Scott, P.O. Box 47236, 600 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7236, 360-890-2443.

This notice meets the following criteria to use the expedited adoption process for these rules:

Corrects typographical errors, makes address or name changes, or clarifies language of a rule without changing its effect.

Content is explicitly and specifically dictated by statute.

Explanation of the Reason the Agency Believes the Expedited Rule-Making Process is Appropriate: Presently, RCW 28A.413.040 Minimum employment requirements, and WAC 179-03-020 Paraeducator minimum employment requirements, are out of alignment.

THIS RULE IS BEING PROPOSED UNDER AN EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE AGENCY TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS, PREPARE A SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT, OR PROVIDE RESPONSES TO THE CRITERIA FOR A SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE RULE. IF YOU OBJECT TO THIS USE OF THE EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS, YOU MUST EXPRESS YOUR OBJECTIONS IN WRITING AND THEY MUST BE SENT TO Tristan Wiley, Professional Educator Standards Board, P.O. Box 47236, 600 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7236, phone 564-233-1255, email Tristan.wiley@k12.wa.us, AND RECEIVED BY March 5, 2024.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 18-16-102, filed 7/31/18, effective 8/31/18)

WAC 179-03-020Paraeducator minimum employment requirements.

(1)(a) A person working as a paraeducator for the employing school district before or during the 2017-18 school year must meet the requirements of subsection (2) of this section by the date of hire for the 2019-20 school year or any subsequent school year.

(b) A person who has not previously worked as a paraeducator for the employing school district must meet the requirements of subsection (2) of this section by the date of hire for the 2018-19 school year or any subsequent school year.

(2) The minimum employment requirements for paraeducators are as provided in this subsection. A paraeducator must:

(a) Be at least ((eighteen))18 years of age and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent, as described in WAC 179-03-022; and

(b) In addition, a paraeducator must meet one or more of the following:

(i) Have received a ((qualifying))passing score on ((the education testing service paraeducator))one of the assessments((as published by the professional educator standards))approved by the board; or

(ii) Hold an associate degree or higher from an accredited college or university; or

(iii) Have earned ((seventy-two))72 quarter credits or ((forty-eight))48 semester credits at the ((one hundred))100 level or higher at an accredited college or university; or

(iv) Have completed an apprenticeship as a paraeducator, in a program registered with the Washington state apprenticeship and training council.