SB 6388 — Concerning paraeducators.

S-4581.1SUBSTITUTES-3830.1SENATE SENATE BILL 6388State of Washington65th Legislature2018 Regular SessionBy Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators Mullet and Rivers)READRiversRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/01/18.AN01/15/18. ACT Relating to paraeducators;

amendingReferred RCWto 28A.413.040,Committee 28A.413.060,on 28A.413.070,Early andLearning 28A.660.050;& K-12 Education.AN ACT Relating to paraeducators;

creatingamending aRCW new28A.413.040, section;28A.660.042, and 28A.413.060;

and repealingmaking RCWappropriations.BE 28A.660.042.BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:PARAEDUCATORWASHINGTON:Sec. 1.  RCW REQUIREMENTSSec. 1.  RCW 28A.413.040 and 2017 c 237 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:((Effective September 1, 2018,))2018, (1)(a) A person working as a paraeducator for a school district before or during the 2017-18minimum schoolemployment year must meet the requirements of subsection (2) of this section by the date of hire for theparaeducators 2019-20are schoolas yearprovided orin anythis subsequentsection.)) school(1) year.(b)All Aparaeducators personcurrently whoemployed hasand nothired previouslybefore workedSeptember as1, a2018, paraeducatorhave foruntil aSeptember school1, district2019, mustto meet the requirements of subsection (2) of this section by the date of hire for the 2018-19 school year or any subsequent school year.(2) The minimum employment requirementsstandards for paraeducators are as provided in this subsection.section.

((The))Paraeducators Ahired paraeducatoron must:(((1)))or (a)after BeSeptember at1, least2018, eighteenmust yearsmeet ofthe ageminimum andemployment holdstandards ain highthis schoolsection diplomawhen orthey itsare equivalent;hired.

The paraeducator must:(((1))) (a) Be at least eighteen years of age and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent;

or(((d))) (iv) Have completed a registered apprenticeship program.NEWprogram.(2) SECTION.  Sec. 2.  ByNon-Title OctoberI 1,school 2018,districts ashould schoolprovide districtthe thatprofessional doeseducator notstandards receiveparaeducator fundingboard underby TitleSeptember I1, of2018, thea federalreport elementaryof andhow secondarymany educationcurrent actparaeducators ofhave 1965met mustminimum reportemployment torequirements theand paraeducatorhow boardmany withhave not met the followingminimum informationemployment aboutrequirements.Sec. 2.  RCW paraeducators28A.660.042 hiredand by2017 thec school237 districts for19 theare 2018-19each schoolamended year,to read as offollows:(((1))) SeptemberThe 1,pipeline 2018:for paraeducators conditional scholarship program is created.

TheParticipation totalis numberlimited ofto paraeducators andwithout the number who meet the minimum employment requirements provided in RCW 28A.413.040.Sec. 3.  RCW 28A.413.060 and 2017 c 237 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:(1) ((Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, beginning September 1, 2019,)) 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) School districts must provide a four-daycollege fundamentaldegree course of study on the state standards of practice, as defined by the board, to paraeducators who have not((at completedleast thethree course,years eitherof inclassroom)) theexperience((. district or in another district within the state.

SchoolIt districtsis mustanticipated usethat bestcandidates effortsenrolled toin providethis theprogram fundamentalwill coursecomplete their associate of studyarts beforedegree theat paraeducatora beginscommunity toand worktechnical withcollege studentsin andtwo theiryears families,or less and atbecome eligible for an endorsement in a minimumsubject matter shortage area, as defined by the deadlinesprofessional educator standards board,)) as defined by the professional educator standards board via route one in the alternative routes to teacher certification program provided in subsectionthis (((2)))chapter.(((2) (3)Entry requirements for candidates include district or building validation of thisqualifications, section.(((2)))including (3)three Exceptyears of successful student interaction and leadership as provideda inclassified (b)instructional ofemployee.))Sec. 3.  RCW this28A.413.060 subsection,and school2017 districtsc must237 provides the7 fundamentalare courseeach ofamended studyto requiredread inas subsectionfollows:(1) (((1)))Subject (2)to the availability of amounts appropriated for this sectionspecific ((aspurpose, follows))beginning bySeptember the1, deadlines2019, providedschool indistricts (a)must ofprovide thisa subsection:(a)(i)four-day Forfundamental paraeducatorscourse hiredof study on orthe beforestate Septemberstandards 1st,of practice, as defined by Septemberthe 30thboard, ofto thatparaeducators year,who regardlesshave ofnot completed the sizecourse, ofeither in the district;district or in another district within the state.

and(((b)))School (ii)districts Forwill paraeducatorshave hiredfrom after September 1st:(((i)))1, (A)2019, Forto districtsSeptember with1, ten2020, thousandto orprovide morethe students,fundamental withincourse fourof monthsstudy ofto theall dateparaeducators ofhired hire;before September 1, 2019.

and(((ii)))For (B)any Forparaeducator hired on or after September 1, 2019, school districts must use best efforts to provide the fundamental course of study before the paraeducator begins to work with fewerstudents thanand tentheir thousandfamilies, students,and noat latera thanminimum Septemberby 1stthe deadlines provided in subsection (2) of this section.(2) School districts must provide the followingfundamental year.(((3)))course (b)(i)of study required in subsection (1) of this section as follows:(a) For paraeducators hired foron theor 2018-19before schoolSeptember year,1st, by September 1,30th 2020;of that year, regardless of the size of the district;

and(ii)and(b) For paraeducators not hired forafter the 2018-19 school year, but hired for the 2019-20 school year, by September 1,1st:(i) 2021.(4)For School districts may collaborate with otherten schoolthousand districts or educationalmore servicestudents, districtswithin tofour meetmonths the requirements of this section.Sec. 4.  RCW 28A.413.070 and 2017 c 237 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:(1) School districts must implement this section only in school years for which state funding is appropriated specifically for the purposesdate of thishire; section and only for the number of days that are funded by the appropriation.(2)(a) Paraeducators may become eligible for a general paraeducator certificate by completing the four-day fundamental course of study, as required under RCW 28A.413.060, and an additional ten days of general courses, as defined by the board, on the state paraeducator standards of practice, described in RCW 28A.413.050.(b) Paraeducators are not required to meet the general paraeducator certificate requirements under this subsection (((1))) (2) unless ((amounts are appropriated for the specific purposes of subsection (2) of this section and RCW 28A.413.060)) the courses necessary to meet the requirements are funded by the state in accordance with subsection (1) of this section and RCW 28A.413.060(1).(((2) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose,)) (3) Beginning September 1, 2019, school districts must:(a) Provide paraeducators with general courses on the state paraeducator standards of practice;

and(b)and(ii) EnsureFor alldistricts paraeducatorswith employedfewer bythan theten districtthousand meetstudents, no later than September 1st of the generalfollowing certificationyear.(3) School districts may collaborate with other school districts or educational service districts to meet the requirements of this sectionsection.NEW withinSECTION.  Sec. 4.  (1) threeThe yearssum of completingfive hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the four-dayfiscal fundamentalyear courseending ofJune study.(((3)))30, (4)2019, Thefrom the general paraeducatorfund certificateto doesthe notstate expire.PIPELINEof FORWashington PARAEDUCATORSprofessional CONDITIONALeducator SCHOLARSHIPSec. 5.  RCWstandards 28A.660.050board to provide overall oversight and 2016procure cor 233develop sprofessional 14development arefor eachspecialty amendedcertificates toand readalign ascourses follows:Subjectwith general certificate professional development, including any necessary changes or edits to thegeneral availabilitycertificate online modules.(2) The sum of amountsfive hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for thisthe specificfiscal purpose,year ending June 30, 2020, from the conditionalgeneral scholarshipfund programsto inthe thisstate chapterof areWashington createdprofessional undereducator thestandards followingboard guidelines:(1)to Theprovide programsoverall shalloversight beand administeredprocure byor thedevelop studentprofessional achievementdevelopment council.for specialty certificates and align courses with general certificate professional development, including any necessary changes or edits to general certificate online modules.--- END ---

In administering the programs, the council has the following powers and duties:(a) To adopt necessary rules and develop guidelines to administer the programs;(b) To collect and manage repayments from participants who do not meet their service obligations;

and(c) To accept grants and donations from public and private sources for the programs.(2) Requirements for participation in the conditional scholarship programs are as provided in this subsection (2).(a) The alternative route conditional scholarship program is limited to interns of professional educator standards board-approved alternative route teacher certification programs under ((RCW 28A.660.040)) RCW 28A.660.020.

For fiscal year 2011, priority must be given to fiscal year 2010 participants in the alternative route partnership program.

In order to receive conditional scholarship awards, recipients shall:(i) Be accepted and maintain enrollment in an alternative route teacher certification program through a professional educator standards board-approved program;(ii) Continue to make satisfactory progress toward completion of the alternative route teacher certification program and receipt of a residency teaching certificate;

and(iii) Receive no more than the annual amount of the scholarship, not to exceed eight thousand dollars, for the cost of tuition, fees, and educational expenses, including books, supplies, and transportation for the alternative route teacher certification program in which the recipient is enrolled.

The council may adjust the annual award by the average rate of resident undergraduate tuition and fee increases at the state universities as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.(b) The pipeline for paraeducators conditional scholarship program is limited to ((qualified)) paraeducators ((as provided by RCW 28A.660.042)) without a college degree who have experience as defined by the professional educator standards board.

In order to receive conditional scholarship awards, recipients shall:(i) Be accepted and maintain enrollment at a community and technical college ((for no more than two years and attain an associate of arts degree));(ii) Continue to make satisfactory progress toward completion of an associate of arts degree((.

This progress requirement is a condition for eligibility into a route one program of the alternative route teacher certification program for an early childhood education, elementary education, mathematics, computer science, special education, bilingual education, or English as a second language endorsement)) with an educational plan that includes enrollment in an alternative route teacher certification program;

and(iii) Receive no more than the annual amount of the scholarship, not to exceed four thousand dollars, for the cost of tuition, fees, and educational expenses, including books, supplies, and transportation ((for the alternative route teacher certification program in which the recipient is enrolled)).

The ((student achievement council may adjust the annual)) award may be adjusted annually by the average rate of tuition and fee increases at the state community and technical colleges.(c) The educator retooling conditional scholarship program is limited to current K-12 teachers.

In order to receive conditional scholarship awards:(i) Individuals currently employed as teachers shall pursue an endorsement in a subject or geographic endorsement shortage area, as defined by the professional educator standards board, including but not limited to mathematics, science, special education, elementary education, early childhood education, bilingual education, English language learner, computer science education, or environmental and sustainability education;

or(ii) Individuals who are certificated with an elementary education endorsement shall pursue an endorsement in a subject or geographic endorsement shortage area, as defined by the professional educator standards board, including but not limited to mathematics, science, special education, bilingual education, English language learner, computer science education, or environmental and sustainability education;

and(iii) Individuals shall use one of the pathways to endorsement processes to receive an endorsement in a subject or geographic endorsement shortage area, as defined by the professional educator standards board, including but not limited to mathematics, science, special education, bilingual education, English language learner, computer science education, or environmental and sustainability education, which shall include passing an endorsement test plus observation and completing applicable coursework to attain the proper endorsement;

and(iv) Individuals shall receive no more than the annual amount of the scholarship, not to exceed three thousand dollars, for the cost of tuition, test fees, and educational expenses, including books, supplies, and transportation for the endorsement pathway being pursued.(3) The Washington professional educator standards board shall select individuals to receive conditional scholarships.

In selecting recipients, preference shall be given to eligible veterans or national guard members.

In awarding conditional scholarships to support additional bilingual education or English language learner endorsements, the board shall also give preference to teachers assigned to schools required under state or federal accountability measures to implement a plan for improvement, and to teachers assigned to schools whose enrollment of English language learner students has increased an average of more than five percent per year over the previous three years.(4) For the purpose of this chapter, a conditional scholarship is a loan that is forgiven in whole or in part in exchange for service as a certificated teacher employed in a Washington state K-12 public school.

The state shall forgive one year of loan obligation for every two years a recipient teaches in a public school.

Recipients who fail to continue a course of study leading to residency teacher certification or cease to teach in a public school in the state of Washington in their endorsement area are required to repay the remaining loan principal with interest.(5) Recipients who fail to fulfill the required teaching obligation are required to repay the remaining loan principal with interest and any other applicable fees.

The student achievement council shall adopt rules to define the terms for repayment, including applicable interest rates, fees, and deferments.(6) The student achievement council may deposit all appropriations, collections, and any other funds received for the program in this chapter in the future teachers conditional scholarship account authorized in RCW 28B.102.080.NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6.  RCW 28A.660.042 (Pipeline for paraeducators conditional scholarship program) and 2017 c 237 s 19 & 2007 c 396 s 6 are each repealed.--- END ---