The bill establishes new teacher residency and apprenticeship programs in Washington State to enhance teacher preparation through practical experience and mentorship. It defines a teacher residency program as a collaborative model that combines a full year of classroom teaching with mentorship from experienced educators and targeted academic coursework. The legislation outlines requirements for these programs, including formal partnerships between school districts and approved teacher preparation programs, the assignment of preservice mentors, and funding provisions for residents and mentors. Additionally, it introduces a teacher apprenticeship program for individuals with bachelor's degrees seeking initial teacher certification, which necessitates 2,000 hours of mentored teaching experience.

The bill also amends existing laws to incorporate these new programs, including changes to scholarship eligibility to include teacher residency programs. It updates terminology by changing "residency certificate" to "initial certificate" and "professional certificate" to "continuing certificate," effective July 1, 2026. Furthermore, it mandates the Washington professional educator standards board to develop assessments for prospective teachers and revise certification requirements to align with the new frameworks. The legislation emphasizes high-quality alternative route programs and rigorous standards across all educator preparation programs, with key changes taking effect on July 1, 2026.

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