This bill aims to enhance the review processes of teacher and principal preparation programs in Washington State to ensure they effectively prepare educators for modern classrooms. It emphasizes the importance of integrating relevant knowledge and skills, responding to community needs, and facilitating continuous improvement within the teacher preparation system. The bill introduces a new section that mandates the Washington professional educator standards board to periodically review approved programs, assess their compliance with established standards, and publish the results for public comparison. The review process will include input from educators and community constituents, ensuring that the programs remain aligned with the evolving educational landscape.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to require teacher preparation programs to develop collaborative plans with local school districts for student teacher field placements, focusing on high-need areas and subjects. These plans must be submitted to the standards board and updated at least every three years. The bill also specifies that the standards board will regularly update the review components to reflect current educational needs and will respond to any misalignments in program performance. The new provisions are set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 28A.410.275, 28B.10.033