The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) works to ensure that Washington’s students have courses and support services from appropriately credentialed educators. One way PESB does this is through assignment policy: matching teacher endorsements with courses, and matching certificates with educator roles.
Assignment policy is set at the state level but offers local flexibility. School districts may set their own additional hiring requirements as long as state policy is also met. Administrators and human resources staff making assignments, school boards approving assignments and conditional certificates, and all educators will find useful information on our assignment guidance web page.
As school districts navigate options for the 2020-21 school year, assignment policy can provide needed flexibility. While this flexibility allows for meeting workforce needs, it is important to prioritize student access to appropriately credentialed educators.
Remote learning and alternative schedules
Assignment policy provides districts flexibility in considering remote learning, alternative schedules, mastery based learning, new calendars, and other options.
Assignment policy for teachers is based on the matching of endorsements to courses. The mode of instruction, such as remote or hybrid learning, does not change the underlying table matching endorsements to CEDARS course codes. Districts must still follow the same policy for placing teachers out-of-endorsement: school board approval and a plan of support for the teacher.
Matching endorsements with courses
PESB establishes a table matching teacher endorsements to courses. This assignment tool can be used to determine which courses are matched with which endorsement so that a teacher remains in endorsement. Course names and codes are published annually by OSPI CEDARS.
- For questions on matching endorsements to courses, certificate types to roles, or on using the PESB assignment table, contact PESB at pesb@k12.wa.us.
- For questions on district reporting requirements, student program area assignment requisites, or course names and course codes, contact the OSPI Title II, Part A program office at title2quality@k12.wa.us.
Teaching out-of-endorsement
A teacher may teach outside of their endorsement area if certain conditions are met. If individuals are assigned outside of their endorsement area, the following need to happen:
- The out-of-endorsement assignment needs to be approved by the local school board.
- The district and the teacher mutually develop a written plan of support for the teacher.
- Teachers are not subject to nonrenewal or probation based on evaluations of their teaching effectiveness in the out-of-endorsement assignments.
Educational staff associates (ESAs)
Educational staff associates (ESAs) provide education and health services to students in Washington State. There are eight ESA roles. Educators must hold the ESA certificate specific to their role. For example, school counselors must hold a school counselor ESA certificate. ESAs providing services through telepractice are subject to the same Washington ESA certification and licensure regulations as those providing in-person services. Learn more about ESA assignment policy.
Learn more:
See guidance on assignment policy including plans of support, options for programs such as special education and Career and Technical Education (CTE), and assignment policy for specific certificate types.
|