AN ACT Relating to improving the educational system; amending RCW 28A.71.210; adding new sections to chapter 28A.04 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 28A.70 RCW; adding new sections to Title 28A RCW; adding a new section to Title 28B RCW; creating new sections; repealing section 4, chapter 422, Laws of 1985 (uncodified); providing expiration dates; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

PART I-A

SCHOOLS FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

NEW SECTION. Sec. 101. (1) A schools for the twenty-first century pilot program is established to foster change in the state common school system. The program will enable educators and parents of selected schools or school districts to restructure certain school operations and to develop model school programs which will improve student performance. The program shall include an evaluation of the projects and be accountable for student progress. The purpose of the program is to determine whether increasing local decision-making authority will produce more effective learning.

(2) The legislature intends to encourage educational creativity, professionalism, and initiative by: (a) Providing schools an opportunity to develop new methods and procedures, through the temporary waiver of certain state statutes or administrative rules, and (b) providing selected public schools or school districts with the technology, services, and staff essential to enhance learning.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 102. The state board of education, with the assistance of the superintendent of public instruction, shall develop a process for schools or school districts to apply to participate in the schools for the twenty-first century pilot program. The board shall review and select projects for grant awards, and monitor and evaluate the schools for the twenty-first century pilot program. The board shall develop criteria to evaluate the need for the waivers of state statutes or administrative rules as identified under section 109 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 103. (1) The governor shall appoint a task force on schools for the twenty-first century. The task force shall assist and cooperate with the state board of education in the development of the process, and review and selection of projects under section 102 of this act and with the state board's duties under section 111 of this act. The state board is directed, in developing the criteria for waivers, to take into consideration concerns and recommendations of the task force.

(2) The task force of ten people shall be appointed by the governor. Appointed members who are not legislators shall be reimbursed for travel expenses under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Appointed members who are members of the legislature shall be reimbursed for travel expenses under RCW 44.04.120. Members of the task force shall serve for a period of six years.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 104. The process, review, and selection of projects to be developed in section 102 of this act shall be approved by the state board of education. The governor's task force on schools for the twenty-first century shall recommend projects for approval to the state board of education.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 105. Initial applications to participate in the schools for the twenty-first century pilot program shall be submitted by the school district board of directors to the state board of education not later than March 31, 1988. Subject to available funding, additional applications may be submitted for board consideration by November 1 of subsequent years. Each application shall contain a proposed plan which:

(1) Enumerates specific activities to be carried out as part of the pilot school(s) project;

(2) Commits all parties to work cooperatively during the term of the pilot project;

(3) Includes provisions for certificated school staff, and classified school employees whose primary duties are the daily educational instruction of students, to be employed on supplemental contracts with additional compensation for a minimum of ten additional days beyond the general state funded school year allocations, and staff development time as provided by legislative appropriation, and, notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 28A.58.095(1), district resources may be used to fund the employment of staff beyond the ten additional days for the purposes of the pilot project;

(4) Includes budget plans for the project and additional anticipated sources of funding, including private grants and contributions, if any;

(5) Identifies the technical resources desired, the potential costs of those resources, and the institutions of higher education, educational service districts, or consultants available to provide such services;

(6) Identifies the evaluation and accountability processes to be used to measure school-wide student and project performance, and identifies a model which provides the basis for a staff incentive pay system. Implementation of the staff incentive pay system is not required;

(7) Justifies each request for waiver of specific state statutes or administrative rules during at least the first two years of the project;

(8) Includes a written statement that school directors and administrators are willing to exempt the pilot school(s) from specifically identified local rules, as needed;

(9) Includes a written statement that the school directors and the local bargaining agents will modify those portions of their local agreements as applicable for the pilot school(s) project; and

(10) Includes written statements of support from the district's board of directors, the district superintendent, the principal and staff of the building requesting to become a pilot school; and statements of support, willingness to participate, or concerns from any interested parent, business, or community organization.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 106. The board, and the task force, after reviewing project proposals, shall, subject to money being appropriated by the legislature for this purpose, select:

(1) Not more than twenty-one projects during each biennium for the schools for the twenty-first century pilot program;

(2) At least one entire school district if the application is consistent with the requirements under sections 102 and 105 of this act;

(3) Projects which reflect a balance among elementary, junior high or middle schools, and high schools. They should also reflect, as much as possible, a balance among geographical areas and school characteristics and sizes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 107. (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall administer sections 102 and 104 through 114 of this act and is authorized to award grant funding, subject to money being appropriated by the legislature for this purpose for pilot projects selected by the state board of education under section 106 of this act.

(2) The superintendent of public instruction shall distribute the initial award grants by July 1, 1988. The initial schools for the twenty-first century pilot projects shall commence with the 1988-89 school year.

(3) The twenty-first century pilot school projects may be conducted for up to six years, if funds are so provided. Subject to state board approval and continued state funding, pilot projects initially funded for two years may be extended for a total period not to exceed six years. Future funding shall be conditioned on a positive evaluation of the project.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 108. (1) The superintendent of public instruction may accept, receive, and administer for the purposes of sections 102 through 114 of this act such gifts, grants, and contributions as may be provided from public and private sources for the purposes of sections 102 through 114 of this act.

(2) The schools for the twenty-first century pilot program account is hereby established in the custody of the state treasurer. The superintendent of public instruction shall deposit in the account all moneys received under this section. Moneys in the account may be spent only for the purposes of sections 102 through 114 of this act. Disbursements from this account shall be on the authorization of the superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee. The account is subject to the allotment procedure provided under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for disbursements.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 109. The state board of education, where appropriate, or the superintendent of public instruction, where appropriate, is authorized to grant waivers to pilot project districts from the provisions of statutes or administrative rules relating to: The length of the school year; teacher contact hour requirements; program hour offerings; student to teacher ratios; salary lid compliance requirements; the commingling of funds appropriated by the legislature on a categorical basis for such programs as, but not limited to, highly capable students, transitional bilingual instruction, and learning assistance; and other administrative rules which in the opinion of the state board of education or the opinion of the superintendent of public instruction may need to be waived in order to implement a pilot project proposal.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 110. State rules dealing with public health, safety, and civil rights, including accessibility by the handicapped, shall not be waived. A school district may request the state board of education or the superintendent of public instruction to ask the United States department of education or other federal agencies to waive certain federal regulations necessary to fully implement the proposed pilot project.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 111. The board shall ensure that successful applicant school districts will be afforded resource and special support assistance, as specified in legislative appropriations, in undertaking schools for the twenty-first century pilot program activities. The board shall develop a process that coordinates and facilitates linkages among participating school districts and colleges and universities. Staff from schools or districts selected to participate in the schools for the twenty-first century pilot program shall be given priority consideration for participation in state sponsored staff development programs and summer institutes which are directly related to the goals of the selected projects.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 112. (1) The state board of education may adopt rules under chapter 34.04 RCW as necessary to implement its duties under sections 102 and 104 through 114 of this act.

(2) The superintendent of public instruction may adopt rules under chapter 34.04 RCW as necessary to implement the superintendent's duties under sections 102 and 104 through 114 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 113. (1) The state board of education shall report to the legislature on the progress of the schools for the twenty-first century pilot program by January 15 of each odd-numbered year, including a recommendation on the number of additional pilot schools which should be authorized and funded. The first report shall be submitted by January 15, 1989.

(2) Each school district selected to participate in the schools for the twenty-first century pilot project shall submit an annual report to the state board of education on the progress of the pilot project as a condition of receipt of continued funding.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 114. The superintendent of public instruction, through the state clearinghouse for education information, shall collect and disseminate to all school districts and other interested parties information about the schools for the twenty-first century pilot projects.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 115. Sections 101 through 114 of this act shall expire June 30, 1994.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 116. Sections 101 through 114 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.

PART I-B

PRIMARY BLOCK EDUCATION PROGRAMS

NEW SECTION. Sec. 117. A new section is added to Title 28A RCW to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction shall develop a model plan for providing support and technical assistance to schools or school districts deciding to develop and implement programs in "continuous progress" or "primary block" education in grades kindergarten through three. The model shall be designed to provide support and technical assistance for district-developed or building-developed programs that emphasize student progress in and through grades kindergarten through three based on ability and skill rather than age.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 118. A new section is added to Title 28A RCW to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction may establish a program to award funds on a grant basis to school districts for pilot primary block education programs. If the superintendent establishes the program, the superintendent shall adopt rules under chapter 34.04 RCW establishing evaluative criteria for the selection of pilot primary block education programs and the award of grants for the programs. The superintendent of public instruction may appoint an advisory committee to assist in establishing the criteria for the selection of pilot primary block education programs and to make recommendations to the superintendent regarding the award of grants.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 119. A new section is added to Title 28A RCW to read as follows:

(1) Pursuant to the establishment of a program to award grants to school districts for pilot primary block education programs as provided under section 118 of this act, school districts shall be required to submit written grant applications to the superintendent of public instruction no later than May 1 of any state fiscal year in which funds may be available for purposes of awarding grants for pilot primary block education programs.

(2) The advisory committee that the superintendent of public instruction may appoint under section 118 of this act, if appointed, shall, no later than May 20 of any state fiscal year in which funds may be available for the purposes of awarding grants for pilot primary block education programs, review the grant applications and make recommendations to the superintendent regarding the award of grants.

(3) The superintendent of public instruction shall select school districts for pilot primary block education program grant awards no later than June 1 of any state fiscal year in which funds may be available for such purposes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 120. A new section is added to Title 28A RCW to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent of public instruction may accept, receive, and administer for the purposes of sections 118 through 122 of this act such gifts, grants, and contributions as may be provided from public and private sources for the purposes of sections 118 through 122 of this act.

(2) The primary block education grant program account is hereby established in the custody of the state treasurer. The superintendent of public instruction shall deposit in the account all moneys received under this section. Moneys in the account may be spent only for the purposes of sections 118 through 122 of this act. Disbursements from the account shall be on authorization of the superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee. The account is subject to the allotment procedure provided under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for disbursement.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 121. A new section is added to Title 28A RCW to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction may allocate state funds as may be appropriated or funds otherwise made available for the purposes of sections 117 through 122 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 122. A new section is added to Title 28A RCW to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction shall submit, biennially, a report to the legislature evaluating the achievement of students who participate in pilot primary block education programs as may be funded through grants awarded by the superintendent of public instruction under sections 118 and 119 of this act.

PART II

TEACHING AS A PROFESSION

NEW SECTION. Sec. 201. The legislature intends to enhance the education of the state's youth by improving the quality of teaching. The legislature intends to establish a framework for teacher and principal preparation programs and to recognize teaching as a profession.

The legislature finds that the quality of teacher preparation programs is enhanced when a planned, sequenced approach is used that provides for the application of practice to academic course work.

The legislature supports better integration of the elements of teacher preparation programs including knowledge of subject matter, teaching methods, and actual teaching experiences.

The legislature finds that establishing: (1) A teaching internship program; (2) a post-baccalaureate program resulting in a masters degree; (3) stronger requirements for earning principal credentials; and (4) a review of the preparation standards for school principals and educational staff associates are appropriate next steps in enhancing the quality of educational personnel in Washington.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 202. A new section is added to chapter 28A.04 RCW to read as follows:

(1) No person may be admitted to a professional teacher preparation program within Washington state without first demonstrating that he or she is competent in the basic skills required for oral and written communication and computation.

(2) After June 30, 1989, no person shall be admitted to a teacher preparation program who has a combined score of less than the state-wide median score for the prior school year scored by all persons taking the Washington precollege test or who has achieved an equivalent standard score on comparable portions of other standardized tests. The state board of education shall develop criteria and adopt rules for exemptions from this subsection.

(3) The state board of education shall adopt rules to implement this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 203. A new section is added to chapter 28A.70 RCW to read as follows:

The state board of education shall require a uniform state exit examination for teacher certification candidates. Commencing August 31, 1993, teacher certification candidates completing a teacher preparation program shall be required to pass an exit examination before being granted an initial certificate. The examination shall test knowledge and competence in subjects including, but not limited to, instructional skills, classroom management, and student behavior and development. The examination shall consist primarily of essay questions. The state board of education shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to implement this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 204. The state board of education shall, no later than January 15, 1990, recommend to the legislature whether all teacher candidates should be required to pass a written subject matter examination. Before making its recommendations, the board shall provide for the administration of sample endorsement subject matter examinations to a sample number of teacher candidates who qualify to receive endorsements on the basis of other criteria. A limited number of endorsement areas shall be selected for sample testing. The results of such tests shall be made available to the legislature.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 205. (1) The state board of education shall establish the requirements for a two-year pilot program to enhance the student teaching component of teacher preparation programs to support innovative ways to expand student teaching experiences for prospective teacher candidates and to expand opportunities for student teacher placements in school districts throughout the state. The state board shall adopt necessary rules under chapter 34.04 RCW to carry out this program.

(2) In developing the pilot program requirements, the state board shall include a requirement that each grant application be jointly developed through a process including participation by school building and school district personnel, teacher preparation program personnel, program unit members, and other personnel as appropriate. Primary administration for each grant project shall be the responsibility of one or more of the cooperating grant project participants, as determined by the grant project participants.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 206. As used in sections 205 through 208 of this act, the term "student teaching" includes all field experiences and opportunities for observation, tutoring, micro-teaching, and extended practicums; clinical and laboratory experiences; and internship experiences in educational settings.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 207. (1) The superintendent of public instruction is authorized to award grant funding on a competitive grant basis.

(2) Each grant application shall include provisions for providing appropriate and necessary training in observation and supervision and assistance skills and techniques for each participating school district cooperating teacher, and other building or district personnel who may be participants in a team concept to support the student teacher, and for each individual who is affiliated with a teacher preparation program or programs as a field-based supervisor of student teachers.

(3) In developing the grant proposals, grant requestors are encouraged but not required to consider such models or model components as:

(a) Contracting or otherwise cooperating with an educational service district to base a supervisor or supervisors in the educational service district to supervise student teachers placed into school districts located within the educational service district;

(b) Contracting or otherwise cooperating with a community college district to base a supervisor or supervisors in the community college district to supervise student teachers placed into school districts located within the boundaries of the community college district;

(d) Contractual or other cooperative arrangements between teacher preparation programs to allow one institution to serve a geographic area of the state not normally served by that institution; and

(e) Contractual or other cooperative arrangements between two or more teacher preparation programs to jointly serve a geographic area of the state not normally served by the institutions.

(4) In approving grant applications for funding, the state board of education shall assure that if no more than one grant project is approved such project shall be of a nature as suggested in subsection (3)(a) of this section. The state board shall also give priority consideration to approving grant projects as suggested in subsection (3) (b) and (e) of this section.

(5) The state board of education shall give priority consideration to approving grant applications designed to involve unserved or underserved school districts and shall assure, to the extent possible, that the grant projects approved for funding reflect a geographic sampling of the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 208. Any compensation provided to certificated school district employees pursuant to the pilot program established under sections 205 through 209 of this act shall not be deemed compensation for the purposes of salary lid compliance under RCW 28A.58.095.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 209. The state board of education shall evaluate the pilot projects and submit a report to the legislature not later than January 15, 1990, including findings and recommendations.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 210. Sections 205 through 209 of this act shall expire January 16, 1990.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 211. Sections 205 through 209 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 212. A new section is added to chapter 28A.70 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The state board of education shall adopt rules providing that all individuals qualifying for an initial-level teaching certificate after August 31, 1992, shall possess a baccalaureate degree in the arts, sciences, and/or humanities and have fulfilled the requirements for teacher certification pursuant to RCW 28A.04.120 (1) and (2). However, candidates for grades preschool through six certificates shall have fulfilled the requirements for a major as part of their baccalaureate degree. If the major is in early childhood education, elementary education, or special education, the candidate must have at least thirty quarter hours or twenty semester hours in one academic field.

(2) The state board of education shall study the impact of eliminating the major in education under subsection (1) of this section and submit a report to the legislature by January 15, 1990. The report shall include a recommendation on whether the major in education under subsection (1) of this section should be eliminated.

(3) The initial certificate shall be valid for two years.

(4) Certificate holders may renew the certificate for a three-year period by providing proof of acceptance and enrollment in an approved masters degree program. A second renewal, for a period of two years, may be granted upon recommendation of the degree-granting institution and if the certificate holder can demonstrate substantial progress toward the completion of the masters degree and that the degree will be completed within the two-year extension period. Under no circumstances may an initial certificate be valid for a period of more than seven years.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 213. A new section is added to chapter 28A.04 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The state board of education shall review the board's current teacher preparation program field experience requirements and the state teacher assistance program as it relates to beginning teachers, and adopt rules as necessary to assure that these programs are coordinated.

(2) The state board of education shall study the concept of "internship" both as it relates to the programs identified in subsection (1) of this section and as it relates to current state board teacher preparation program approval standards. Based on the study findings the board may develop and recommend to the legislature appropriate standards for a teacher internship as a requirement for initial-level teacher certification. Pursuant to any such standards the board may develop, the board shall indicate if the internship is intended to replace or be in addition to both the board's current teacher preparation program field experience requirements and the state teacher assistance program as it relates to beginning teachers.

The state board shall consider providing for a paid internship and, as necessary, recommend payment options to the legislature.

(3) The state board shall submit to the legislature by January 15, 1990, a report relating to the provisions of subsection (2) of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 214. A new section is added to chapter 28A.04 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The state board of education and the higher education coordinating board shall work cooperatively to develop by January 15, 1990, the standards for the implementation of a post-baccalaureate professional teacher preparation program that results in the acquisition of a masters degree in teaching. The program shall: (a) Build upon the program of courses required for teacher certification as provided by RCW 28A.04.120 (1) and (2); and (b) provide for the application of academic theory to classroom practice.

(2) In developing the standards under subsection (1) of this section, the state board of education shall consult with institutions of higher education offering teacher preparation programs, the higher education coordinating board, and other groups or organizations having an interest in teacher preparation issues.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 215. A new section is added to chapter 28A.70 RCW to read as follows:

The state board of education shall implement rules providing that all teachers performing instructional duties and acquiring professional level certificate status after August 31, 1992, shall possess, as a requirement of professional status, a masters degree in teaching, or a masters degree in the arts, sciences, and/or humanities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 216. A new section is added to chapter 28A.04 RCW to read as follows:

The state board of education shall review and develop by January 15, 1990, standards which address the minimum professional educational requirements necessary for initial or professional certification for persons entering education from other fields, and for other persons who want to enter education. The standards shall include:

(1) An internship or field experience requirement that is coordinated with the state teacher assistance program as it relates to beginning teachers. The board shall consider providing for a paid internship and, as necessary, recommend payment options to the legislature;

(2) Completion of professional education coursework equivalent to that required for initial-level teacher certification and which may be taken as part of or in conjunction with a masters degree program required under section 215 of this act; and

(3) Teaching experience as determined by the state board.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 217. In developing the standards under sections 205 through 216 and 220 through 224 of this act, the state board of education shall review ways to strengthen program unit functions and processes to enhance cooperative agreements between public or private institutions of higher education and schools or school districts.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 218. Notwithstanding state board of education rules governing the length of time by which individuals must have obtained a standard or continuing certificate pursuant to standards of the state board of education in effect prior to 1978, in order to qualify for a continuing certificate under standards effective in 1978, any applicant who completed all requirements within the stated length of time for obtaining a certificate shall have an additional year to apply for such certificate.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 219. A new section is added to Title 28A RCW to read as follows:

The legislature finds that effective principals have high degrees of skill as managers and instructional leaders. The legislature intends to support the continued development of these skills by:

(1) Providing for the review of the preparation standards for school principals;

(2) Requiring the adoption of further rules regarding principal certification by the state board of education; and

(3) Establishing an administrators' academy.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 220. The state board of education shall review the requirements of preparation programs for school principals and educational staff associates. The results of this review shall be reported to the legislature on or before December 15, 1988, and shall address:

(1) The appropriateness of existing preparation standards as they relate to the needs of persons fulfilling the role of principal or any one of the educational staff associate roles.

(2) Procedures for selection of persons to attend principal preparation programs.

(3) Procedures for recruitment and selection of principal candidates who reflect the racial, ethnic, and gender composition of the school population; and

(4) Provisions for an internship program for principal candidates, the provision of release time equivalent to not less than one academic semester from normal duties for the interns, and the establishment of mentor principals and supervision by faculty from a public or independent institution of higher education.

(5) This section shall expire December 16, 1988.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 221. A new section is added to Title 28A RCW to read as follows:

The state board of education shall develop, in cooperation with an academy advisory committee, the standards for the implementation of an administrators' academy.

(1) The state board of education shall establish the academy advisory committee which shall be comprised of at least twelve members appointed by the state board of education and which shall include persons representing the state board, school administrators, classroom teachers, local school directors, principals, and institutions of higher education offering school administrator training programs.

(2) The superintendent of public instruction shall appoint an individual to serve as director for the academy and as ex officio chairperson of the advisory committee with full voting privileges.

(3) The state board of education shall adopt rules as necessary for the establishment and operation of the administrators' academy and the academy advisory committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 222. A new section is added to Title 28A RCW to read as follows:

The school administrators' academy shall focus on methods of developing and refining the administrative, evaluation, and leadership skills of school administrators. The academy program shall complement other staff development programs offered by professional associations and higher education school administrator training programs. The academy may operate in conjunction with such programs. The state board of education is directed to include in the academy program components that will provide for:

(1) A needs assessment for each academy participant;

(2) An academy curriculum designed to meet the needs established by the assessment of the participants;

(3) Continued opportunity to review and reinforce the skills learned as a result of participation in the academy;

(4) Cost-sharing provisions for participating administrators; and

(5) Procedures for evaluation of the administrators' academy.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 223. A new section is added to Title 28A RCW to read as follows:

The state board of education shall submit a report on the implementation and progress of the school administrators' academy to the legislature by January 15, 1989.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 224. A new section is added to Title 28A RCW to read as follows:

The state board of education shall adopt rules requiring candidates for administrative certification to complete the following requirements in addition to others that may be established by the board:

(1) After August 31, 1992, the candidate shall hold a valid professional level teacher or educational staff associate certificate at the time of application for the initial level principal certificate.

(2) The candidate for a professional level principal certificate shall complete a course of study approved by the state board of education and offered by institutions of higher education, or complete a course of study approved by the state board of education and offered by specialized or general professional associations, or complete a course of study through the administrators' academy. All such courses of study shall comply with section 222 (1), (2), and (3) of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 225. The state board of education shall monitor the development of studies for establishing a national teacher assessment and certification process and advise the legislature on the applicability of a national teacher assessment and certification process and creation of a national board for professional teaching standards for this state and report to the legislature by January 15, 1990.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 226. The state board of education and the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall review the provisions of the interstate agreement on qualifications of educational personnel under chapter 28A.93 RCW, and advise the governor and the legislature on which interstate reciprocity provisions will require amendment to be consistent with sections 212 through 216 and 220 through 224 of this act by January 1, 1992.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 227. The superintendent of public instruction shall provide technical assistance to the state board of education in the conduct of the activities described in sections 202 through 232 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 228. The higher education coordinating board and the state board of education shall develop recommended legislation to enhance the masters degree requirement under section 215 of this act and report to the legislature by December 1, 1988. Recommendations for programs to be implemented beginning with the 1989 school year shall include but not be limited to:

(1) Graduate scholarships for candidates for a masters degree leading to professional-level teacher certification, especially minorities, the disadvantaged, and the needy.

(2) Work study programs for persons intending to enter a teacher preparation program leading to initial-level teacher certification or a masters degree program leading to professional-level teacher certification.

This section shall expire December 15, 1988.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 229. A new section is added to chapter 28A.04 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The state board of education shall establish an annual award program for excellence in teacher preparation to recognize higher education teacher educators for their leadership, contributions, and commitment to education.

(2) The program shall recognize annually one teacher preparation faculty member from one of the teacher preparation programs approved by the state board of education.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 230. A new section is added to chapter 28A.04 RCW to read as follows:

The award for the teacher educator shall include:

(1) A certificate presented to the teacher educator by the governor, the president of the state board of education, and the superintendent of public instruction at a public ceremony; and

(2) A grant to the teacher program unit of the institution from which the teacher educator is selected, which grant shall not exceed two thousand five hundred dollars and which grant shall be awarded under section 232 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 231. A new section is added to chapter 28A.04 RCW to read as follows:

The state board of education shall adopt rules under chapter 34.04 RCW to carry out the purposes of sections 229 through 232 of this act. These rules shall include establishing the selection criteria for the Washington award for excellence in teacher preparation program. The state board of education is encouraged to consult with teacher educators, deans, and program unit members in developing the selection criteria.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 232. A new section is added to chapter 28A.04 RCW to read as follows:

The teacher program unit for the institution from which the teacher educator has been selected to receive an award shall be eligible to apply for an educational grant as provided under section 230 of this act. The state board of education shall award the grant after the state board has approved the grant application as long as the written grant application is submitted to the state board within one year after the award is received by the teacher educator. The grant application shall identify the educational purpose toward which the grant shall be used.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 233. A new section is added to Title 28B RCW to read as follows:

The state's public and private institutions of higher education offering teacher preparation programs and school districts are encouraged to explore ways to facilitate faculty exchanges, and other cooperative arrangements, to generate increased awareness and understanding by higher education faculty of the common school teaching experience and increased awareness and understanding by common school faculty of the teacher preparation programs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 234. Sections 202 through 233 of this act shall be known as the professional educator excellence act of 1987.

PART III

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

Sec. 301. Section 2, chapter 189, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. as last amended by section 1, chapter 214, Laws of 1985 and RCW 28A.71.210 are each amended to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction is hereby empowered to administer funds now or hereafter appropriated for the conduct of in-service training programs for public school certificated and classified personnel and to supervise the conduct of such programs. The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 34.04 RCW that provide for the allocation of such funds to public school district or educational service district applicants on such conditions and for such training programs as he or she deems to be in the best interest of the public school system: PROVIDED, That each district requesting such funds shall have:

(1) Conducted a district needs assessment, including plans developed at the building level, to be reviewed and updated at least every two years, of certificated and classified personnel to determine identified strengths and weakness of personnel that would be strengthened by such in-service training program;

(2) Demonstrate that the plans are consistent with the goals of basic education;

(3) Established an in-service training task force and demonstrated to the superintendent of public instruction that the task force has participated in identifying in-service training needs and goals; and

((~~(3)~~)) (4) Demonstrated to the superintendent of public instruction its intention to implement the recommendations of the needs assessment and thereafter the progress it has made in providing in-service training as identified in the needs assessment.

The task force required by this section shall be composed of representatives from the ranks of administrators, building principals, teachers, classified and support personnel employed by the applicant school district or educational service district, from the public, and from an institution(s) of higher education, in such numbers as shall be established by the school district board of directors or educational service district board of directors.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 302. (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall appoint a temporary task force to: (a) Survey or otherwise identify state and local district requirements on teachers to complete various forms; (b) recommend to school districts ways in which local reporting requirements might be combined and streamlined; and (c) develop ways in which state reporting requirements might be combined and streamlined.

(2) This section shall expire June 30, 1988.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 303. Section 4, chapter 422, Laws of 1985 (uncodified) is hereby repealed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 304. Section 303 of this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect June 15, 1987.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 305. 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.