WA HB1651

Establishes teacher residency programs requiring a full year of hands-on classroom teaching with an experienced mentor, at least 900 hours of preservice clinical practice, and concurrent academic coursework through partnerships between schools and board-approved teacher preparation programs

Requires teacher apprenticeship programs to be approved by both the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council and the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board, with 2,000 hours of on-the-job mentored teaching experience

Mandates funding for each resident and stipends for preservice mentors in residency programs

Beginning September 1, 2025, entities must first receive approval as a teacher preparation program before applying to operate a teacher apprenticeship model

Takes effect July 27, 2025, passed House 58-39 and Senate 30-18