2018 Revised Code of Washington
Title 28A - COMMON SCHOOL PROVISIONS
28A.660 Alternative route teacher certification.
28A.660.020 Program design—Funding—Reports.

RCW 28A.660.020 Program design—Funding—Reports.

(1) The professional educator standards board shall transition the alternative route partnership grant program from a separate competitive grant program to a preparation program model to be expanded among approved preparation program providers. Alternative routes are partnerships between professional educator standards board-approved preparation programs, Washington school districts, and other partners as appropriate. Program design of alternative route programs shall continue to evolve over time to reflect innovations and improvements in educator preparation. The 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 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 professional educator standards board shall:

(a) Uphold criteria for alternative route program design that is innovative and reflects 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) Amend or adopt rules issuing preservice residents certification necessary to serve as substitute teachers in classrooms within the residency school for up to ten days per school year;

(d) Continue to prioritize program designs tailored to the needs of experienced paraeducators and candidates of high academic attainment in 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 each odd-numbered year thereafter, the 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 professional educator standards board. In considering administrative rules for, and reporting outcomes of, alternative route programs, the professional educator standards board shall examine the historical record of the data, reporting on:

(a) The number and percentage of alternative route completers hired;

(b) The percentage of alternative route completers from underrepresented populations;

(c) Three-year and five-year retention rates of alternative route completers;

(d) The average hiring dates of alternative route completers; and

(e) The percentage of alternative route completers hired in districts where their alternative route program was completed.

(4) To the extent funds are appropriated for this 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.

[ 2017 c 14 § 1; 2010 c 235 § 503; 2006 c 263 § 816; 2004 c 23 § 2; 2003 c 410 § 1; 2001 c 158 § 3.]

NOTES:

Finding—2010 c 235: See note following RCW 28A.405.245.

Findings—Purpose—Part headings not law—2006 c 263: See notes following RCW 28A.150.230.