In 2020, a stakeholder workgroup met to review the educator discipline system in Washington. At the March 2021 board meeting, PESB approved updates to the code of conduct and educator discipline system related to workgroup recommendations.
Additions to the code of conduct:
- Provisions on social media and digital communications
- New definition of sexual grooming is now included in sexual misconduct
The Board also added a new type of non-disciplinary action: the letter of concern, which will serve as a low-level intervention that is preventive and informative in nature.
The Board also approved guidance for the composition of a disciplinary appeals committee to better reflect the diversity of the students in our state.
Learn more
(WAC 181-85, 181-86, 181-87, 181-88)
The Board approved technical policy changes for preparation program standards to establish greater clarity, coherency, and consistent language. The underlying policy itself was not changed. Standards specific to school psychologist and school counselor programs are being reviewed by workgroups this spring.
View meeting materials to learn more.
(WAC 181-77, 181-77A, 181-78A, 181-79A, 181-80)
In March 2020, PESB issued emergency rules allowing approved preparation programs to recommend teacher candidates for an emergency certificate if they had met all requirements for program completion with the exception of assessments. To provide additional flexibility, the Board has extended the deadline for programs to recommend their candidates for this emergency certificate.
The emergency teacher certificate is valid for one year and can be reissued for a second year with program recommendation. Programs may recommend candidates for their first emergency certificate by December 31, 2021. Programs may recommend candidates for their second emergency certificate by June 30, 2022. Once a program has recommended a candidate for the certificate, the candidate will need to complete the application through the OSPI Certification Office no later than December 31, 2022.
FAQ on emergency teacher certificates
(WAC 181-79A-228)
PESB is offering grants of up to $15,000 to strengthen educator retention through professional learning opportunities. Grantees will organize and support learning communities using competency-based professional growth plans (PGPs) in the 2021-22 school year.
Professional learning communities (PLCs) must include paraeducators and educators from populations that have been historically underrepresented and systematically excluded from the educator workforce. Each grantee must support a minimum of 20 educators completing PGPs.
Applicants will choose one of three areas to focus their learning community work and must include strategies to increase educator retention. Focus areas include:
- Community building
- Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) integration
- A grantee specified area
View our informational packet to learn more about the grant.
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