“Paraeducators Find Alternate Path to Teaching: School districts take part in partnership that helps them earn full-time certification“, published by The Columbian
News
The latest information on upcoming events, deadlines, and other news related to the Professional Educator Standards Board and the Paraeducator Board.
With principals in ‘crisis mode,’ new Washington state law taps into thousands of potential teacher recruits
“With principals in ‘crisis mode,’ new Washington state law taps into thousands of potential teacher recruits”, published by the Seattle Times
Alternative Route Teacher Preparation Programs Map
Alternative Route teacher preparation programs map (March 2017)
Alternative Route Block Grants Awarded
Alternative Route Block Grants awarded: 9 preparation programs receive $2.53M to support alternative routes to teacher certification (November 2016)
October 2016 Report on Recruiting Washington Teachers
Latest report on Recruiting Washington Teachers (October 2016)
Guidance on the Every Student Succeeds Act
PESB guidance regarding the Every Student Succeeds Act (March 2016)
Teacher Prep Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer Wallace, (360)725-6275, Jennifer.Wallace@PESB.wa.gov
Olympia, Washington – February 11, 2016
Professional Educator Standards Board Approves First Community College to Offer Teacher Preparation Program
Well-timed to help address the state’s increased demand for teachers to achieve K-3 class size reduction, Pierce College has been approved by the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges and the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) to offer a Bachelor of Applied Science in Education degree with preparation for teacher certification and dual endorsements in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education. In partnership with Sumner, Clover Park, Steilacoom and Puyallup School Districts, this Alternative Route program will target paraeducators with Associate Degrees (AAS) in Early Childhood Education who will be fully employed while completing online, evening and weekend coursework followed by a classroom-based residency where they will co-teach with a trained mentor teacher.
This type of program reflects increased interest by school districts in “growing their own” teachers, with a tight pipeline from recruitment to preparation to employment. Prospective teachers with AAS degrees can face barriers and difficult transition with more traditional programs. Pierce’s direct pathways from AAS to BAS and certification all within the community college system provides familiarity and supports to help ensure successful completion. AAS students also represent greater racial/ethnic diversity than AA direct-transfer students, thus furthering the state’s goal of a teacher workforce with demographics more closely resembling that of its students.
Program cost is projected at $7,500 / year for two years, with some candidates eligible for future teacher conditional loan scholarships of $8,000 / year and/or other forms of financial aid. The program will begin accepting applicants in the fall of 2016 for a winter 2017 start. Two additional community colleges will be seeking teacher preparation program approval later this year.
