Learn what happened at PESB's September board meeting

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October 25, 2019

 

This newsletter provides key updates and policy changes that were presented at the September board meeting. See additional actions and annotations from this meeting.

In this issue...


Strategic planning has kicked off

Members from the Professional Educator Standards Board and the Paraeducator Board began their strategic planning process focusing on the agency's future goals, mission, vision, and strategies to continue supporting state education policy. Planning sessions will continue taking place during board meetings over the next several months. We look forward to engaging with stakeholders, and collecting critical feedback to help inform this work.

strategic planning

Course approval and re-approval

The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) oversees the approval and re-approval processes for the following courses:

  • Professional transitions to public schools
  • Suicide prevention training

Applications for course approval are now being accepted from providers wanting to offer either of these courses. To learn more about the approval process, and view the re-approval schedule, visit our website.


Out-of-state equivalencies for basic skills assessment

At the September meeting, the Board approved the policy change that would allow all candidates to use national and out-of-state equivalent basic skills assessments in lieu of WEST-B, in addition to SAT and ACT. This policy change will streamline and simplify the basic skills assessment requirement, offering a single list of assessments that all candidates for all programs are eligible to take. We anticipate this policy may become effective Spring 2020. A specific timeline of implementation will be shared later.

  • For more information about the approved equivalent basic skills assessment list, visit our website

National standards for reading

The Board approved to develop the Washington endorsement competencies for reading, which combines both the International Literacy Association standards (ILA) and the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) standards. PESB will convene content experts and stakeholders to develop the reading endorsement competencies in 2019-20.


Social Emotional Learning (SEL) standards

The Board PESB made initial consideration of a policy amendment that would incorporate the SEL standards into preparation program standards for teachers and principals, as required by the legislature. At the November board meeting, the Board will consider this proposed amendment, as well as deliberate how best to incorporate the SEL standards into standards for in-service teachers and principals.


Workgroup to examine assessment system

PESB will convene the Educator Assessment System (EAS) workgroup to formulate recommendations for a more coherent assessment system that ensures a properly credentialed and diverse teaching workforce. Particularly, the work group will focus on the passing requirement for edTPA and the case-by-case exception process for NES/WEST-E. The first work group meeting will take place in November 2019. 


Recap of the Paraeducator Board meeting

On September 25 at NE ESD 101, the Paraeducator Board heard presentations and took action on several policies, including:

  • Approving draft language of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) standards to add to the paraeducator standards of practice. This means that the Fundamental Course of Study will include SEL training beginning in January 2020. The online course, “Paraeducators: what we do matters”, will be updated to address the new standards.
  • Approving rules that allow for the completion of a professional growth plan (PGP) to renew the ELL Subject Matter Certificate, but not for attainment. 
  • Listened to representatives from Nine Mile Falls School District and Spokane Public Schools on their approaches to implementing the Fundamental Course of Study.
  • A presentation from Monica Beane, Client Relations Director for the Educational Testing Service (ETS) , who updated the Board on plans to allow for remote proctoring of the ETS ParaPro exam. 

For a complete review of the September board meeting, including summaries for each agenda item, please visit the meeting materials folder.


Upcoming board meetings

  • November 14-15, 2019 in Vancouver
  • January 16-17, 2020 in Olympia
  • March 19-20, 2020 in SeaTac
  • May 21-22, 2020 in Richland
  • July 16-17, 2020 TBD
  • September 24-25, 2020 in Spokane
  • November 5-6, 2020 in Vancouver

View additional board meeting information.

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