AN ACT Relating to paraeducators; amending RCW 28A.413.060 and 28A.413.070; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.410 RCW.

The professional educator standards board must revise its rules on limited certificates to allow for the issuance of a conditional teaching certificate in special education to a paraeducator, as defined in RCW 28A.413.010, who holds an unexpired subject matter certificate in special education, under RCW 28A.413.080, to the same extent to an individual with a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university who is enrolled in an approved teacher preparation program resulting in a teacher certificate with an endorsement in special education.

(1)(a) School districts must implement this section only in school years for which state funding is appropriated specifically for the purposes of this section and only for the number of days that are funded by the appropriation.

(b) If state funding appropriated specifically for the purposes of this section is sufficient for only one day of the four-day fundamental course of study on the state standards of practice, as defined by the board, then the one day of the course must be provided in person. If state funding appropriated specifically for the purposes of this section is sufficient for more than one day of the four-day fundamental course of study on the state standards of practice, as defined by the board, at least one day of the course must be provided in person.

(2) School districts must provide a four-day fundamental course of study on the state standards of practice, as defined by the board, to paraeducators who have not completed the course, either in the district or in another district within the state. School districts must use best efforts to provide the fundamental course of study before the paraeducator begins to work with students and their families, and at a minimum by the deadlines provided in subsection (3) of this section.

(3) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, school districts must provide the fundamental course of study required in subsection (2) of this section by the deadlines provided in (a) of this subsection:

(a)(i) For paraeducators hired on or before September 1st, the first two days of the fundamental course of study must be provided by September 30th of that year and the second two days of the fundamental course of study must be provided within six months of the date of hire, regardless of the size of the district; and

(A) For districts with ten thousand or more students, the first two days of the fundamental course of study must be provided within four months of the date of hire and the second two days of the fundamental course of study must be provided within six months of the date of hire or by September 1st of the following year, whichever is sooner; and

(ii) For paraeducators not hired for the 2018-19 school year, but hired for the 2019-20 school year, by September 1, 2021.

(4) School districts may collaborate with other school districts or educational service districts to meet the requirements of this section.

(b) School districts are encouraged to provide at least one day of the ten days of general courses, as defined by the board, on the state paraeducator standards of practice as a professional learning day, where paraeducators collaborate with certified staff and other classified staff on applicable courses.

(2)(a) Paraeducators may become eligible for a general paraeducator certificate by completing the four-day fundamental course of study, as required under RCW 28A.413.060, and an additional ten days of general courses, as defined by the board, on the state paraeducator standards of practice, described in RCW 28A.413.050.

(b) Paraeducators are not required to meet the general paraeducator certificate requirements under this subsection (2) unless the courses necessary to meet the requirements are funded by the state in accordance with subsection (1) of this section and RCW 28A.413.060(1).

(b) Ensure all paraeducators employed by the district meet the general certification requirements of this section within three years of completing the four-day fundamental course of study.