(1) All credits earned in furtherance of degrees earned by certificated staff, that are used to increase earnings on the salary schedule consistent with RCW 28A.415.023, must be obtained from an educational institution accredited by an accrediting association recognized by rule of the professional educator standards board.

     (2) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall verify for school districts the accreditation status of educational institutions granting degrees that are used by certificated staff to increase earnings on the salary schedule consistent with RCW 28A.415.023.

     (3) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall provide school districts with training and additional resources to ensure they can verify that degrees earned by certificated staff, that are used to increase earnings on the salary schedule consistent with RCW 28A.415.023, are obtained from an educational institution accredited by an accrediting association recognized by rule of the professional educator standards board.

     (4)(a) No school district may submit degree information before there has been verification of accreditation under subsection (3) of this section.

     (b) Certificated staff who submit degrees received from an unaccredited educational institution for the purposes of receiving a salary increase shall be fined three hundred dollars. The fine shall be paid to the office of the superintendent of public instruction and used for costs of administering this section.

     (c) In addition to the fine in (b) of this subsection, certificated staff who receive salary increases based upon degrees earned from educational institutions that have been verified to be unaccredited must reimburse the district for any compensation received based on these degrees.

[2006 c 263 § 809; 2005 c 461 § 1.]

NOTES:

     Findings -- Purpose -- Part headings not law -- 2006 c 263: See notes following RCW 28A.150.230.