| June 12, 2020
On May 20, the Paraeducator Board heard presentations and took action on several policies, including:
- Amending WAC to clarify the use of certificate fees.
- Listening to representatives from Pasco and Kennewick school districts on their approaches to implementing the Fundamental Course of Study (FCS).
- Receiving a presentation on reimbursement for the FCS, iGrants 918.
- Hearing results from a paraeducator feedback form.
For a complete review of the board meeting, including summaries for each agenda item, please visit the meeting material folder.
We’re excited to announce the release of new, optional curriculum materials to help districts meet the Fundamental Course of Study (FCS) training requirements. Paraeducators cannot complete this training without a facilitator.
The last iGrants quarterly report for training reimbursement for the 2019-20 school year is due September 1, 2020. No claims submitted after September 1 will be reimbursed. After the final submission of the reports, the budget page will open in the following days. Districts will then complete the budget page and reimbursement will be distributed mid-September.
The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) administers the following conditional scholarships for individuals who plan to become a teacher in Washington.
Pipeline for paraeducators conditional scholarship - accepting applications
The Pipeline for Paraeducators Conditional Scholarship is designed to support paraeducators and Recruiting Washington Teachers alumni who wish to become teachers by providing financial aid for the completion of an Associate of Arts degree. Applications may be submitted on a rolling basis (there is no deadline.)
Teacher shortage conditional scholarship - accepting applications through June 19, 2020
The Teacher Shortage Conditional Scholarship provides financial support to encourage people to become teachers in shortage areas. It is available to those who are accepted into and maintain enrollment in a PESB-approved teacher preparation program leading to an initial teacher certificate and plan to pursue an endorsement in a shortage area. Applications are due June 19, 2020.
In July 2019, members from both the Paraeducator Board and the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) began working on their 2021-25 strategic plan. Our four year strategic plan helps us determine long-term goals, actions we will take to reach them, and key performance indicators to help monitor progress.
A critical step in the strategic planning process is to engage our partners, stakeholders, and community members. To do this, we are convening a series of virtual meetings and promoting an online public survey. The objective of these engagement opportunities is to collect your feedback on the plan’s draft components, help inform our agency’s focus areas, identify barriers, and guide future policy work as it relates to the educator career continuum.
It is important we hear from and engage with you about how we can strengthen Washington’s educator workforce, and better support student success. Your experiences and unique perspective will help us to identify opportunities for improvement, where gaps may exist, and where clarity is needed.
On May 28, we held an informational webinar on the Paraeducator Certificate Program reviewing:
- Requirements and funding for the 2020-21 school year;
- In-person training requirements;
- The FCS curriculum.
View the recording.
Beginning with the 2020-21 school year, the date a paraeducator is hired will determine the deadline for when a district must provide training on the Fundamental Course of Study, This new requirement was adopted during the 2020 legislative session. As these deadlines differ from current requirements, we recommend school district leaders conduct a review.
The Reopening Washington Schools 2020: District Planning Guide, released on June 11, 2020 by OSPI, provides guidance to school districts as they plan to reopen for the 2020-21 school year. Also included are health and safety guidelines from the Department of Health (DOH).
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