The bill establishes new teacher residency and apprenticeship programs in Washington State, aimed at enhancing teacher preparation through hands-on experience and mentorship. It introduces a teacher residency model that requires a formal partnership between a school district or charter school and a board-approved teacher preparation program. Key requirements for the residency include at least 900 hours of preservice clinical practice, collaborative design of coursework, and stipends for both residents and preservice mentors. The bill also defines essential terms such as "resident," "preservice mentor," and "cohort" to clarify the roles and structure of the program.

Additionally, the bill outlines a teacher apprenticeship model that must be approved by both the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council and the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board. This model mandates 2,000 hours of on-the-job mentored teaching experience, with provisions for paraeducator hours to count towards this requirement. Starting September 1, 2025, entities must obtain approval from the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board before applying to operate a teacher apprenticeship model or making changes to their partnerships. The bill ensures that any state funds allocated for these programs are used exclusively for their support and operations.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 28B.102.110, 28A.410.045, 28A.410.220, 28A.410.2211, 28A.410.226, 28A.410.250, 28A.410.251, 28A.410.252, 28A.410.278, 28A.410.290, 28A.660.020