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The latest information on upcoming events, deadlines, and other news related to the Professional Educator Standards Board and the Paraeducator Board.

PESB Statement on DACA

The PESB continues to be supportive of Washington State’s DACA recipients and undocumented youth, many of whom are educators. We acknowledge and are proud of the courage displayed by our educators and school communities in the face of anxiety and uncertainty, and have called on Congress to swiftly pass a clean Dream Act.

On behalf of our educators and students they serve, the PESB has called on Congress to immediately pass a clean Dream Act. We have also urged that passing the DREAM act include a pathway to citizenship and that it be authorized without any compromises regarding border security, enforcement, and additional ICE appropriations. Our communities deserve the certainty and permanent protections the Dream Act provides.

Since the DACA program was implemented in 2012, more than 800,000 people nationwide have applied for and received DACA status. This number includes thousands of educators in our K-12 system nationally. At the same time, Washington State is facing a severe teaching shortage. We also see the number of English Language Learners (ELL) students growing rapidly, and the research demonstrating the powerful impact that teachers who look like and reflect their students is undeniable.

Many bright, talented, and bilingual educators in our state are DACA recipients who will lose their ability to work and serve our students in the coming months. Stripping away great educators only hurts our education system, our students and families, and our economy. The PESB takes an active stance in support of protecting our Dreamers. We will continue to advocate for urgent action at the national level, and acknowledge that current uncertainty as well as future changes will have an impact locally.

We encourage educators and school communities to connect with local immigrant rights and civil rights agencies for further guidance on this issue and others related to immigration rights. Any legal advice should be provided only by a qualified attorney.

In the meantime, PESB continues to explore ways that we can contribute and provide support. We are grateful and proud of our educators who support and display courage every day for their students and families. We will stand with our communities to ensure there is a path forward for Dreamers and undocumented youth in the U.S. and Washington State.

Diversifying the Educator Workforce: Recruiting Washington Teachers

Diversifying the Educator Workforce (DEW) meetings focus on strategies that increase underrepresented candidates in the educator workforce and grow the next generation of educators.

This event, co-hosted by PESB and The Gates Foundation, will focus on growing our own educators through Recruiting Washington Teachers (RWT) teacher academies. The RWT program has the overarching goal of growing diverse future teachers, who more closely reflect the population of Washington’s students, by introducing high school students to what a career in education looks like and the importance of their role in the future of education. This event will include discussions of the impact of culturally responsive teaching academies, the launching of the new RWT professional development, the design of innovative RWT programs, and breakout sessions lead by current RWT teachers and higher education partners.

Registration link – http://events.gatesfoundation.org/d/4tqs9x?ct=44b118e4-dd6e-4ed5-8057-5caaeef8b728

Key date – February 7, 2018 – registration required to attend

Contact – pathways@pesb.wa.gov