H-0960.2  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1416

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State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Mulliken, Romero, Talcott, Clements, Johnson, Costa, Wolfe, Mielke and Dunn

Read first time 01/24/97.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Recognizing teaching degrees in deaf education from a program approved by the council on education of the deaf.

    AN ACT Relating to recognizing teaching degrees in deaf education from a program approved by the council on education of the deaf; adding a new section to chapter 28A.410 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that an opportunity exists to improve the overall educational development of deaf and hard of hearing children by increasing access to educators who are themselves deaf or hard of hearing.  The culture shared between deaf and hard of hearing educators and deaf and hard of hearing students cannot be adequately replicated or assimilated in a classroom with a hearing educator.  Deaf and hard of hearing educators are sensitive to the needs of deaf and hard of hearing students and are able to provide more appropriate strategies to assist students in reacting and interacting with their environment.  The legislature further finds it is necessary to provide deaf and hard of hearing students with greater opportunities to develop the unique strategies and perceptions shared in deaf culture to optimize their potential in today's world.  It is the legislature's intent to increase these opportunities by eliminating identified barriers to the certification of deaf and hard of hearing educators who are able to provide these unique educational services.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.410 RCW to read as follows:

    In establishing rules for certification, the state board of education shall waive the requirement for a special education endorsement for those individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and intend to provide instruction to deaf or hard of hearing children if the individual possesses a baccalaureate or master's degree in deaf education from a program approved by the council on education of the deaf.

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