Section 181-79A-251. Teacher residency and professional certification—Renewal and reinstatement.

(1) Residency certificates shall be renewed under one of the following options:

(a) Individuals who hold, or have held, residency certificates have the following options for renewal past the first three-year certificate:

(i) Individuals who have attempted and failed the professional certificate assessment are eligible for a two-year renewal;

(ii) Individuals who have not been employed or employed less than full-time as a teacher during the dated, three-year residency certificate may receive a two-year renewal by submitting an affidavit to the certification office confirming that they will register and submit a uniform assessment portfolio or they will complete assessment for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Individuals not employed as a teacher may permit their certificate to lapse until such time they register for the professional certificate assessment, or the National Board Certification;

(iii) Individuals whose three-year residency certificate has lapsed may receive a two-year renewal by submitting an affidavit to the certification office confirming that they will register and submit a uniform assessment portfolio for the professional certificate assessment or assessment for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards: Provided, That teachers holding certificates expiring in 2014, 2015, or 2016 who have completed the available sections for the National Board Teacher Certificate may receive an additional two-year renewal in 2016 or 2017 to complete the assessment.

(b) A residency certificate expires after the first renewal if the candidate has not registered for and submitted a portfolio assessment prior to June 30th of the expiration year, to achieve the professional certificate, Provided: When the first two-year renewal on residency certificates expires, teachers have three renewal options:

(i) Individuals who were employed but failed the professional certification assessment, may receive a second two-year renewal;

(ii) Individuals who were unemployed or employed less than full-time as a teacher during the first two-year renewal may permit their certificate to lapse. Upon contracting to return to a teacher role, individuals may apply for a final, second two-year renewal by submitting an affidavit to the certification office confirming that they will register and submit a uniform assessment portfolio for the professional certification assessment.

(iii) An individual who completes a National Board Certification assessment but does not earn National Board Certification, may use that completed assessment to apply for a final, second two-year renewal by submitting an affidavit to the certification office confirming that they will complete and submit their scores from the assessment for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or register and submit the Washington uniform assessment portfolio as per this section, WAC 181-79A-251.

(c) Individuals who hold expired residency certificates may be reinstated by having a district request, under WAC 181-79A-231, a transitional certification not less than one year following the final residency expiration: Provided, That the teacher registers and passes the Washington uniform assessment portfolio as per this section, WAC 181-79A-206 or assessment for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards within two years of issuance of the transitional certificate.

(d) Individuals who hold a dated residency certificate prior to September 2011 that have expiration dates past September 2011 are subject to the same renewal options as described in (a)(ii) and (iii) of this subsection.

(2) Teacher professional certificate.

(a) A valid professional teacher certificate issued prior to September 1, 2014, may be renewed for additional five-year periods by the completion of one hundred fifty continuing education credit hours as defined in chapter 181-85 WAC or by completing four professional growth plans as defined in WAC 181-79A-030.

(b) Beginning September 1, 2014, four professional growth plans developed annually during the period in which the certificate is valid in collaboration with the professional growth team as defined in WAC 181-79A-030 are required for renewal.

(c) Renewal of the professional certificate.

(i) Individuals may apply their focused evaluation professional growth activities of the evaluation system toward the professional growth plan for certificate renewal.

(ii) Individuals who complete the requirements of the annual professional growth plan to renew their professional certificate shall receive the equivalent of thirty hours of continuing education credit hours.

(iii) The professional growth plans must document formalized learning opportunities and professional development activities that relate to the standards and "career level" benchmarks defined in WAC 181-79A-207.

(iv) Beginning September 1, 2014, continuing education or professional growth plans for teachers at the elementary and secondary levels in STEM-related subjects must include a specific focus on the integration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics instruction as per RCW 28A.410.2212. This renewal requirement applies to the following endorsement areas: Elementary education; early childhood education; middle level mathematics and science; secondary mathematics and science; the designated secondary sciences; technology; and career and technical education endorsements. Certificates with a renewal date of June 30, 2019, and beyond must demonstrate completion of at least fifteen continuing education credit hours, or at least one goal from an annual professional growth plan, with an emphasis on the integration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This requirement is for all professional teacher certificate holders regardless of date of issuance of the first professional certificate.

(v) Provided, That a professional certificate may be renewed based on the possession of a valid teaching certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards at the time of application for the renewal of the professional certificate. Such renewal shall be valid for five years or until the expiration of the National Board Certificate, whichever is greater.

(vi) Provided, any educator holding a professional certificate which requires completion of four PGPs in five years, may renew the professional certificate for one time only by completing one hundred fifty continuing education credit hours as defined in chapter 181-85 WAC, or with completion of fifteen quarter credit hours related to job responsibilities, in lieu of completion of four professional growth plans as required by this section. Individuals with valid certificates must show completion of the hours as described in this section since the professional certificate was issued. Individuals with an expired professional certificate must complete the hours as described in this section within the five years prior to the date of the renewal application. Provided, That this section is no longer in effect after June 30, 2020.

(vii) For educators holding multiple certificates in WAC 181-79A-251, 181-79A-2510, 181-79A-2511, or 181-79A-2512, or in chapter 181-85 WAC, a professional growth plan for teacher, administrator, or education staff associate shall meet the requirement for all certificates held by an individual which is affected by this section.

(viii) The one-time renewal option of using clock hours or credits in lieu of professional growth plans as required applies to any/all professional certificates an educator may hold, and is only available to the individual one time. This section is no longer in effect after June 30, 2020.

(ix) Provided, as per RCW 28A.410.278(2) beginning September 1, 2016, in-service training, continuing education, or professional growth plans shall incorporate professional development on the revised teacher and principal evaluation systems under RCW 28A.405.100 as a requirement for renewal of continuing or professional level certificates. Certificates with a renewal date of June 30, 2019, and beyond for all teachers must document completion of at least fifteen clock hours, or at least one goal from an annual professional growth plan, related to knowledge and competency of the teacher and principal evaluation criteria or system.

(d) An expired professional certificate issued under rules in effect prior to September 1, 2014, may be renewed for an additional five-year period by presenting evidence to the superintendent of public instruction of completing the continuing education credit hour requirement within the five years prior to the date of the renewal application. All continuing education credit hours shall relate to one of the three standards: Effective instruction, professional contributions or professional development.

(e) Individuals not in the role of a teacher in a public school or approved private school holding a professional teaching certificate may have their professional certificate renewed for a five-year period by the completion of:

(i) Fifteen quarter credits (ten semester credits) of college credit course work directly related to the current performance-based standards as defined in WAC 181-79A-207; or

(ii) One hundred fifty continuing education credit hours as defined in chapter 181-85 WAC since the certificate was issued and which relate to the current performance-based standards as defined in WAC 181-79A-207; or

(iii) Beginning September 1, 2014, four professional growth plans developed annually during the period in which the certificate is valid in collaboration with the professional growth team as defined in WAC 181-79A-030 are required for renewal.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.410.210. WSR 16-07-103, § 181-79A-251, filed 3/18/16, effective 4/18/16; WSR 15-20-059, § 181-79A-251, filed 10/1/15, effective 11/1/15; WSR 14-24-057, § 181-79A-251, filed 11/25/14, effective 12/26/14; WSR 14-16-105, § 181-79A-251, filed 8/6/14, effective 9/6/14; WSR 14-09-121, § 181-79A-251, filed 4/23/14, effective 5/24/14; WSR 13-16-081, § 181-79A-251, filed 8/6/13, effective 9/6/13; WSR 13-11-072, § 181-79A-251, filed 5/16/13, effective 6/16/13; WSR 13-04-082, § 181-79A-251, filed 2/5/13, effective 3/8/13; WSR 12-18-005, § 181-79A-251, filed 8/23/12, effective 9/23/12; WSR 12-07-076, § 181-79A-251, filed 3/20/12, effective 4/20/12; WSR 10-16-124, § 181-79A-251, filed 8/3/10, effective 9/3/10.]

RCW 28A.410.210. WSR 16-07-103, § 181-79A-251, filed 3/18/16, effective 4/18/16; WSR 15-20-059, § 181-79A-251, filed 10/1/15, effective 11/1/15; WSR 14-24-057, § 181-79A-251, filed 11/25/14, effective 12/26/14; WSR 14-16-105, § 181-79A-251, filed 8/6/14, effective 9/6/14; WSR 14-09-121, § 181-79A-251, filed 4/23/14, effective 5/24/14; WSR 13-16-081, § 181-79A-251, filed 8/6/13, effective 9/6/13; WSR 13-11-072, § 181-79A-251, filed 5/16/13, effective 6/16/13; WSR 13-04-082, § 181-79A-251, filed 2/5/13, effective 3/8/13; WSR 12-18-005, § 181-79A-251, filed 8/23/12, effective 9/23/12; WSR 12-07-076, § 181-79A-251, filed 3/20/12, effective 4/20/12; WSR 10-16-124, § 181-79A-251, filed 8/3/10, effective 9/3/10.

Rules

181-79A-231,181-79A-206,181-85,181-79A-030,181-79A-030,181-79A-207,181-85,181-79A-2510,181-79A-2511,181-79A-2512,181-85,181-79A-207,181-85,181-79A-207,