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March 29, 2021
The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) sets certification and role requirements for educators of the deaf, blind, and visually impaired. At the March meeting, the Board approved policy changes for these educator roles, following a review of recommendations from two workgroups.
Workgroup recommendations and policy changes
- The changes increase access and reduce barriers by adding options for obtaining or renewing certain credentials.
- The workgroups looked at related roles to ensure Washington maintains a coherent credentialing system. Previously, each role had been considered separately, in separate years.
- The workgroups’ recommendations clarify and streamline the credentialing system, while maintaining high standards.
- Educators who currently hold these credentials will continue to renew their certificate in the same way they always have.
Informational webinars
PESB is convening informational webinars to share more about these recent policy changes.
Educators of the blind and visually impaired webinar
Educators of the deaf webinar
- Wednesday, April 14 | 3 to 4 p.m. | Register to attend.
- ASL - English interpretation will be provided for this webinar
Request accomodations
PESB strives to host inclusive events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation for these webinars, or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact PESB staff Sophia Keskey at sophia.keskey@k12.wa.us. Requests should be made as soon as possible but at least seven business days prior to the event.
Educator roles
Learn more about changes for these roles on our website.
Educators of the blind and visually impaired
- Orientation and mobility specialist ESA certificate: Previously, this was a specialty endorsement on a teacher certificate. Now, orientation and mobility will be an educational staff associate (ESA) certificate. Teachers who hold this specialty endorsement will continue to hold and renew it as they always have. New educators will apply for the orientation and mobility ESA certificate.
- Teachers of the visually impaired: For this role, the Board has adopted endorsement competencies from the Council of Exceptional Children. An assessment is being developed. Once the assessment is adopted by the Board, teachers of the visually impaired will become a regular endorsement, and will no longer be a specialty endorsement.
- Certificated and classified providers of Braille instruction: The Board updated and modified the list of accepted assessments. School districts are responsible for monitoring the qualifications of educators in these roles.
Educators of the deaf
- Deaf education, and deaf education with ASL proficiency endorsements: Previously, deaf education was a specialty endorsement. To meet the diverse needs of students in our state, there will now be two separate regular endorsements: deaf education, and deaf education with ASL proficiency.
- CTE ASL interpreter specialty area: The Board clarified requirements for obtaining and renewing this credential.
- ASL world language endorsement: The Board made no changes to this role.
- Educational interpreter for the deaf: A stakeholder focus group will be reviewing policy on this role later this spring.
More information
Questions about PESB policy can be sent to pesb@k12.wa.us.
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