WSR 18-16-107
PERMANENT RULES
PARAEDUCATOR BOARD
[Filed July 31, 2018, 3:39 p.m., effective August 31, 2018]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: Creates new chapter 179-11 WAC describing requirements for the general paraeducator certificate.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New chapter 179-11 WAC.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter
28A.413 RCW.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 18-12-013 on May 24, 2018.
A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting David Brenna, 600 Washington Street, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-725-6238, fax 360-586-4548, email david.brenna@k12.wa.us, web site www.pesb.wa.gov.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 5, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 5, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: July 25, 2018.
David Brenna
Senior Policy Analyst
Chapter 179-11 WAC
GENERAL PARAEDUCATOR CERTIFICATE
NEW SECTION
WAC 179-11-010Purpose.
(1) The purpose of this chapter is to define a paraeducator's minimum requirements and process to attain, and the validity period for, the general paraeducator certificate.
(2) The general paraeducator certificate is the minimum credential a paraeducator may earn to obtain the knowledge and skill needed to support and assist teachers with their programs and administrative duties.
NEW SECTION
WAC 179-11-020Definitions.
The additional ten days of training to attain the general paraeducator certificate will consist of seventy continuing education credit hours.
NEW SECTION
WAC 179-11-030Minimum requirements.
Prior to completing the general paraeducator certificate, the paraeducator must have completed the fundamental course of study.
NEW SECTION
WAC 179-11-040Process.
(1) School districts must implement this section only in school years for which state funding is appropriated specifically for the purposes of this section and only for the number of days that are funded by the appropriation.
(2) The paraeducator must complete the general paraeducator certificate in three years after completing the fundamental course of study, as follows:
(a) If the fundamental course of study is completed prior to June 30th of a calendar year, then it shall have a completion date calculated on the basis that it was completed on June 30th of the same calendar year regardless of the date of completion; and
(b) If the fundamental course of study is completed July 1st or later in the calendar year, then it shall have a completion date calculated on the basis that it was completed on June 30th of the next calendar year regardless of the date of completion.
(3) To attain the paraeducator general certificate, the paraeducator must complete training that meets in-service education approval standards as written in chapter 181-85 WAC.
(4) A paraeducator who holds the English language learner subject matter certificate and/or special education subject matter certificate may deduct twenty continuing education credit hours per subject matter certificate from the hours required to meet the general paraeducator certificate.
(5) The paraeducator shall be responsible for completing filing requirements with the superintendent of public instruction, in accordance with WAC 179-01-020, the completion of the general paraeducator certificate.
NEW SECTION
WAC 179-11-050Validity period.
Once issued to the paraeducator, the general paraeducator certificate does not expire.