PARAEDUCATOR BOARD NEWSLETTER
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE MARCH BOARD MEETING?
On March 20, the Paraeducator Board received a variety of presentations, and approved many important policies, including:
For a complete review of the March Board meeting, including summaries for each tab, please visit our online resource.
NEW WEBINAR RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE
On March 13, we hosted an informational webinar to share details of the Paraeducator Certificate Program. The recording of this webinar is now available.
The presentation included an overview of the new paraeducator employment requirements, implementation guidance and timelines, and the Legislative ask to fund this new professional development.
For two years, a rural school district tucked away along the Olympic Peninsula experienced a vacancy for their high school Spanish teacher position. As a result, student learning suffered. Eventually a community member named Reed was hired on a conditional certificate, while the school worked with him as he enrolled, and completed his teaching certificate through an Alternative Route program.
 This story is just one example, from one school, in one small area of Washington. Shortages similar to this are experienced across all geographic regions, in all subject matter content areas and specialty support roles. Washington is also experiencing a shortage of educators who meet the racial, ethnic, and linguistic demographics of our students.
Published by the Professional Educator Standards Board, a new report examines indicators and approaches to the shortage, explores multilevel complexities, offers descriptive data, and highlights current and future strategies tied to solutions.
Read the full announcement.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR PARAEDUCATORS TO RECEIVE AA DEGREE
The Pipeline for Paraeducators Conditional Loan Scholarship provides funding for paraeducators interested in earning their residency teaching certificate. To qualify, candidates must:
- Have a minimum of three years of classroom experience
- Not have a college degree
The scholarship awards candidates with up to $4,000 towards earning their Associate of Arts (AA) degree from a Washington community or technical college. Those awarded will be required to complete their AA within two years of award date, making them eligible to enroll in an Alternative Route 1 program to earn certification, and teach for a minimum of two years in a subject matter shortage area.
The next deadline to submit your application is May 7.
For more information on the requirements and responsibilities of candidates, please visit our website.
JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Did you know that PESB and the Paraeducator Board are on social media? Follow along for daily updates, milestones reached, reminders and resources.
You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
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