Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

     Purpose: WAC 181-82A-207 and 181-82A-208, specialty endorsements adding environmental and sustainability education, teacher of the visually impaired, and orientation and mobility teacher (WAC 181-82A-207) and requiring assessment of teacher content knowledge in the specialty area (WAC 181-82A-208).

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending x [WAC 181-82A-207 and 181-82A-208].

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28A.410.210.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 09-08-058 on March 26, 2009.

     A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting David Brenna, 600 Washington Street South, Room 252, Olympia, WA 98504-7236, phone (360) 725-6238, fax (360) 586-4548, e-mail david.brenna@k12.wa.us.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: May 20, 2009.

David Brenna

Legislative and

Policy Coordinator

OTS-2110.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 07-23-050, filed 11/15/07, effective 12/16/07)

WAC 181-82A-207   Specialty endorsement criteria.   (1) Specialty endorsements prepare a teacher to work with a specific student population/demographic and/or subject matter area, and are created to help teachers specialize beyond the required certificate endorsements as stated in WAC 181-82A-202. Specialty endorsements have unique endorsement competencies not found in any of the existing endorsements. Specialty endorsements shall include a means of assessing an applicant's content knowledge in the specialty subject area that shall be assessed and verified through program completion.

     (2) Each college or university and/or Washington-based organization/association requesting the creation of a specialty endorsement shall seek a two phase approval by the professional educator standards board.

     (a) Phase one: Proposers shall submit a preapproval proposal to the professional educator standards board that includes the following information:

     (i) Documentation of nationally recognized teaching standards unique to the proposed specialty endorsement;

     (ii) Letter of support from a professional educator standards board-approved college or university interested in offering the proposed specialty endorsement program.

     (b) Phase two: If proposers receive preapproval from the professional educator standards board, they shall submit a phase two application available by the board. The phase two application, not to exceed ten pages, will address the following information:

     (i) A description of the needs, student population and/or subject matter addressed by the proposed specialty endorsement;

     (ii) A description of the unique knowledge and skills the proposed specialty endorsement provides to educators;

     (iii) An explanation of the expected value and benefit of the proposed specialty endorsement for the K-12 system.

     (c) Upon completion of both phases and board approval of a specialty endorsement, the process in WAC 181-82A-206 shall apply.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.410.210. 07-23-050, § 181-82A-207, filed 11/15/07, effective 12/16/07; 06-20-063, § 181-82A-207, filed 9/29/06, effective 10/30/06.]

     (1) Deaf education (per RCW 28A.410.225).

     (((1))) (a) This specialty endorsement is required for teachers who will be working almost exclusively with students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

     (((2))) (b) Program ((and test)) requirements are waived and this specialty endorsement granted if a candidate possesses a baccalaureate or master's degree in deaf education from a teacher training program approved by the council on education of the deaf.

     (2) Environmental and sustainability education.

     (3) Teacher of the visually impaired.

     (4) Orientation and mobility teacher.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.410.210. 06-20-063, § 181-82A-208, filed 9/29/06, effective 10/30/06.]

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office