Z-0060.1

HOUSE BILL 1015

ByRepresentatives Santos, Ybarra, Bergquist, Stonier, Leavitt, Rude, Jacobsen, Simmons, Reed, Lekanoff, Goodman, Pollet, Ortiz-Self, Callan, Doglio, Reeves, Tharinger, Wylie, Paul, Thai, Springer, and Ormsby; by request of Professional Educator Standards Board

AN ACT Relating to minimum employment requirements for paraeducators; amending RCW 28A.413.040; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 28A.413.040 and 2018 c 153 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1)(a) A person working as a paraeducator for a 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 a 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; and

(b)(i) Have received a passing grade on ((the education testing service paraeducator assessment))an assessment approved by the board; ((or))

(ii) Hold an associate of arts degree; ((or))

(iii) Have earned ((seventy-two))72 quarter credits or ((forty-eight))48 semester credits at an institution of higher education; or

(iv) Have completed a registered apprenticeship program.

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