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On May 19 and 20, the Paraeducator Board heard presentations, including:
- An overview of a professional learning grant opportunity using PGPs (tab 2)
- Paraeducator apprenticeship III (tab 3)
- Enhancing the collection of paraeducator data (tab 4)
- Implementing the certificate program following legislative funding (tab 5)
- Discussion of the March listening session (tab 6)
For a complete review of the board meeting, including summaries for each agenda item, please visit the meeting material folder.
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We are pleased to report that the Legislature has allocated funds to reimburse school districts for providing two days of training to their paraeducators during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years. Read the announcement.
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Longtime educator Pamella Johnson is the newest member to be appointed to the Paraeducator Board. Pamella was appointed by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and is currently an educational support professional serving as an intervention specialist in the Rochester school district. Learn more about Pamella. |
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A clock hour is how Washington State measures professional development for educators. To complete each part of the certificate program, a paraeducator must earn the following number of clock hours:
- Fundamental Course of Study (FCS): 28 clock hours
- General Paraeducator Certificate: 70 clock hours
- Subject Matter Certificates: 20 clock hours
- Advanced Paraeducator Certificate: 75 clock hours
Watch a video to learn more.
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Paraeducators may use professional growth plans (PGP) to earn or renew certain certificates within the program.
What is a PGP?
PGPs are job-embedded, self-directed professional development. To complete a PGP, paraeducators set their own goals, align them to the paraeducator standards of practice, design an action plan, and collect evidence documenting their growth towards achieving their goals. Paraeducators then reflect on the process. There is no cost for a paraeducator to complete a PGP. Learn more about PGPs, including sample paraeducator PGPs.
How can I use PGPs for my professional development?
- General certificate: only one PGP may be completed to help meet the requirements.
- Subject matter certificates: a PGP can be used to renew a subject matter certificate, but it cannot be used to earn one.
- Advanced certificate: PGPs may be completed to both earn and renew the advanced certificate.
Have questions about PGPs? Contact Leiani Sherwin for more information at leiani.sherwin@k12.wa.us.
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The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) administers several conditional scholarships that provide financial aid for individuals interested in earning a teaching certificate. Conditional scholarships are distributed as a loan. Once you have earned your teacher certificate, you must serve as a teacher for a specified length of time for the loan to be forgiven as a scholarship.
Pipeline for paraeducators conditional scholarship - accepting applications now
This conditional scholarship supports paraeducators and Recruiting Washington Teachers alumni who want to become teachers by providing financial aid to complete an Associate of Arts degree. You can apply at any time as there is no deadline.
Learn more about conditional scholarship opportunities.
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- Yukari Amos
- Omar Escalera
- Pamella Johnson
- Lisa Markussen
- Cindy Rockholt
- Laura Rogers
- Lizzy Sebring
- Cathy Smith (Chair)
- Jamie Wells
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- July 14-15 | Semiahmoo Resort, Blaine, WA
- September 15-16, 2021 | TBD, Spokane
- January 19 – 20, 2022 | TBD, Olympia
- May 18 – 19, 2022 | TBD, TriCities
- July 11 – 12, 2022 | TBD
- September 21 – 22, 2022 | TBD, Spokane
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