(1)(a) Alternative route programs are partnerships between Washington professional educator standards board-approved preparation programs, Washington school districts, and other partners as appropriate. Program design of alternative route programs must evolve over time to reflect innovations and improvements in educator preparation.
(b) The Washington professional educator standards board must construct rules that address the competitive grant process and program design.
(2) As provided in RCW
28A.410.210, it is the duty of the Washington professional educator standards board to establish policies for the approval of nontraditional preparation programs and to provide oversight and accountability related to the quality of these programs. In establishing and amending rules for alternative route programs, the Washington professional educator standards board shall:
(a) Uphold design criteria for alternative route programs that are innovative and reflect evidence-based practice;
(b) Ensure that approved partnerships reflect district engagement in their resident alternative route program as an integral part of their future workforce development, as well as school and student learning improvement strategies;
(c) Issue certificates necessary for student teachers to serve as substitute teachers in classrooms within the residency school for up to ten days per school year;
(d) Prioritize program designs tailored to the needs of experienced paraeducators and candidates of high academic attainment in, or with occupational industry experience relevant to, the subject area they intend to teach. In doing so the program designs must take into account school district demand for certain teacher credentials;
(e) Expand access and opportunity for individuals to become teachers statewide; and
(f) Give preference in admissions to applicants for alternative route programs who are eligible veterans or national guard members and who meet the entry requirements for the alternative route program.
(3) Beginning December 1, 2017, and by December 1st each odd-numbered year thereafter, the Washington professional educator standards board shall report to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate the following outcomes as indicators that alternative route programs are meeting legislative intent through the regulation and oversight of the Washington professional educator standards board. In considering administrative rules for, and reporting outcomes of, alternative route programs, the Washington professional educator standards board shall examine the following data on alternative route program participants:
(a) The number and percentage hired as certificated teachers;
(b) The percentage from underrepresented populations;
(c) Three-year and five-year retention rates of participants hired as certificated teachers;
(d) The average hiring dates; and
(e) The percentage hired by districts in which the participants completed their alternative route programs.
(4) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, alternative route programs may apply for program funds to pay stipends to trained mentor teachers of interns during the mentored internship. The per intern amount of mentor stipend provided by state funds shall not exceed five hundred dollars.