BP BHEAD INT H [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to tuition assistance for public school teachers required to take college courses to continue teaching and public school classified instructional staff seeking teacher certification; adding a new chapter to Title 28A RCW; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that the quality of the classroom teacher is a pivotal factor in the degree to which students successfully achieve high academic standards.

(2) The legislature recognizes widespread concerns about the potential for teacher shortages and finds that classified instructional staff in public schools represent a great untapped resource for recruiting the teachers of the future.

(3) The legislature finds that tuition assistance for teachers who are required by state rules to take college courses in order to continue teaching and tuition assistance for classified instructional staff seeking to become certificated teachers will help enhance the quality of teaching and improve student learning.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) Any teacher employed in the common school system of Washington who takes a course from a regionally accredited institution of higher education may apply to the superintendent of public instruction for reimbursement of tuition expenses for the course if the teacher took the course in order to meet state continuing education requirements imposed as a condition for continuing to hold a teaching certificate. A teacher may apply for tuition assistance under this chapter only for courses necessary to continue to hold a teaching certificate.

(2) For purposes of this chapter, "courses necessary to continue to hold a teaching certificate" means courses which both:

(a) Contribute toward the minimum number of continuing education credit hours a teaching certificate holder must earn prior to the earliest date on which the certificate held would otherwise lapse or be subject to nonrenewal due to failure to meet continuing education requirements; and

(b) Are taken at least in part for the purpose of meeting the minimum state continuing education requirements necessary to avoid the lapsing or nonrenewal of the certificate or in order to obtain the next required type of certification.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall pay teachers who submit a valid application for tuition assistance a reimbursement of the cost of tuition for any course necessary to continue to hold a teaching certificate up to a maximum amount of the average cost of tuition at public baccalaureate institutions in the state of Washington, provided all other requirements of this chapter are also fulfilled.

(2) A valid application for tuition assistance for teachers must include, but is not limited to:

(a) Documentation concerning the specific course taken, and identification of which portion of state minimum continuing education requirements is fulfilled by the course;

(b) College and university grade sheets or transcripts that indicate completion of courses; or if the course was structured in a pass/fail format, whether the applicant received a passing grade; and

(c) A signed statement indicating the applicant understands and agrees that any intentional misrepresentation of a material fact on the application subjects the certificate holder to revocation of his or her certificate pursuant to established rules and procedures of chapter 180-86 WAC and other applicable provisions.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) Any classified instructional staff employed in the common school system of Washington who takes a course from a regionally accredited institution of higher education may apply to the superintendent of public instruction for reimbursement of a portion of the tuition expense for the course if the classified instructional staff member took the course in order to become certified to teach in Washington public schools. A classified instructional staff member may apply for tuition assistance under this chapter only for courses that are necessary for and applicable to academic credits needed to qualify for a teaching certificate in Washington.

(2) The superintendent of public instruction shall pay classified instructional staff who submit a valid application for tuition assistance a reimbursement for the cost of tuition for any course from a regionally accredited institution of higher education that is applicable toward academic credits needed to qualify for a teaching certificate in Washington public schools. The maximum amount of the tuition assistance is the average cost of tuition at public baccalaureate institutions in the state of Washington.

(3) A valid application for tuition assistance for classified instructional staff must include, but is not limited to:

(a) Documentation concerning the specific course taken, and a description of how the course is applicable toward requirements that must be met in order to receive a teaching certificate in Washington;

(b) College and university grade sheets or transcripts that indicate completion of courses; or if the course was structured in a pass/fail format, whether the applicant received a passing grade;

(c) A signed statement indicating the applicant understands and agrees that any intentional misrepresentation of a material fact on the application subjects the applicant to:

(i) Future revocation of his or her certificate if a certificate is granted; and

(ii) An order that may be issued by the superintendent to repay the superintendent any tuition assistance previously provided, with interest.

(4) If a classified instructional staff member who receives tuition assistance under this chapter is granted a teaching certificate and does not teach in the common school system of Washington for at least two years within five years of being granted the certificate, the superintendent may seek repayment, with interest, of the full amount of tuition assistance provided, if the superintendent deems repayment is appropriate under the circumstances of a particular case.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. To be eligible to receive tuition assistance under this chapter, an applicant must receive a grade of "B" or better or, in the case of a course structured in a pass-fail format, a grade of "pass."

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall provide a form which applicants may submit to seek tuition assistance under this chapter. The form must be integrated to the extent possible with verification forms already developed by the superintendent to implement existing requirements that certificate holders report how they have complied with continuing education requirements.

(2) The superintendent shall provide tuition assistance payments to qualified applicants within ninety days of the receipt of a complete and valid application, subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the legislature for implementation of this program.

(3) The superintendent may require applicants to retain records of their application for tuition assistance and any payments received under this chapter. If the superintendent deems that applicants must retain records relevant to the tuition assistance program, the superintendent shall provide timely notification to applicants of such requirements. The superintendent shall maintain records and retain documents related to the tuition assistance program established by this chapter in such a manner that the program may be audited.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Sections 1 through 7 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 28A RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.