BILL REQ. #:  H-3033.1 

Read first time 12/09/11.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to encouraging school districts to loop groups of students and teachers in successive grade levels; 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   (1) The legislature finds that:
     (a) There is evidence that the practice of keeping a group of students with the same teacher in successive school years and grade levels, or looping, has positive academic and social benefits for students;
     (b) There is also evidence that ninth grade is a particularly difficult transition year, a time when many students experience emotional and social challenges as well as declines in attendance and grades. Furthermore, if students must repeat ninth grade, their chances of eventually dropping out of school increase significantly;
     (c) Even though looping could address some of the academic and social challenges of ninth grade, school districts are less likely to try this instructional strategy for middle school students; and
     (d) Teacher certification requirements may be a contributing factor to districts' reluctance to loop students and teachers between middle school and ninth grade.
     (2) Therefore, the legislature intends to encourage school districts to consider looping as a strategy to improve student achievement and reduce dropouts by removing any barriers imposed by state teacher certification requirements.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.410 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The professional educator standards board shall permit school districts to assign teachers to classes other than in their areas of endorsement without requiring a supplemental assistance plan, additional coursework, or application for a waiver if:
     (a) The purpose of the assignment is intentionally to keep a group of students with the same teacher or teachers between one or more middle school grades and ninth grade as part of a program to improve students' academic and social outcomes;
     (b) The school district determines the teacher has sufficient knowledge and skills to be a competent instructor in the assigned classes; and
     (c) Each such assignment is approved by a formal vote of the local school board for each teacher so assigned.
     (2) School districts must report annually to the professional educator standards board on the number of teachers assigned outside their area of endorsement under this section for the previous school year, but the board shall maintain and display the number separately from other reported out-of-endorsement assignments.