PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR

[Filed August 10, 2022, 1:40 p.m., effective August 10, 2022, 1:40 p.m.]

Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.

Purpose: Communities continue to experience a public health crisis related to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. This WAC change would help clarify the scope of the transitional certificate assignment policy to support educators who face ongoing challenges related to this public health situation and have limited access to clock hours due to the pandemic impact.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 181-82-110.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 28A.410 RCW.

Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

Reasons for this Finding: Clarify the assignment policy related to the transitional certificate and reduce confusion for educators who face ongoing challenges due to COVID-19.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: August 10, 2022.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 21-22-104, filed 11/2/21, effective 12/3/21)

WAC 181-82-110School district response and support for nonmatched endorsements to course assignment of teachers.

(1) Individuals with initial, residency, endorsed continuing, professional, transitional, or emergency teacher certificates who are employed with a school district may be assigned to classes other than in their areas of endorsement. If teachers are so assigned, the following shall apply:

(a) A designated representative of the district and any teacher so assigned shall mutually develop a written plan which provides for necessary assistance to the teacher, and which provides for a reasonable amount of planning and study time associated specifically with the out-of-endorsement assignment;

(b) Such teaching assignments shall be approved by a formal vote of the local school board for each teacher so assigned.

(2) Special education preendorsement waiver:

(a) A teacher who has completed ((two hundred forty))240 continuing education credit hours under WAC 181-85-030 of course work applicable to a special education, early childhood special education, teacher of the visually impaired, deaf education, or deaf education with ASL proficiency endorsement shall be eligible for a preendorsement waiver from the special education office under chapter 392-172A WAC. Individuals with a preendorsement waiver are considered to have met the requirements for "substantial professional training" for the appropriate endorsement under WAC 392-172A-02090.

(b) All remaining requirements for the special education, early childhood special education, teacher of the visually impaired, deaf education, or deaf education with ASL proficiency endorsement shall be completed within five years.

(3) Teachers are not subject to nonrenewal or probation based on evaluation of their teaching effectiveness in the out-of-endorsement assignments under this section.