Through innovative grants and pilot programs PESB is responding to employer workforce demands and expanding the diversity of our state’s educators.
Advancing equity grant
- Purpose: The advancing equity grant is a two-year grant designed to address persistent inequities in Washington’s P-12 education system and educator preparation programs.
- Grantees: PESB-approved educator preparation programs
- Funding: $10,000 a year
- Timeline: The application cycle is closed. The 2021-23 advancing equity grant is currently in progress.
Alternative route block grant
- Purpose:The alternative route block grant (ARBG) provides funding to support alternative route programs engaging “grow your own” teacher strategies to address district and teacher candidate needs.
- Grantees: PESB-approved alternative routes programs
- Funding: Programs may apply for between 10 and 30 ARBG funded candidate seats per year. Alternative Routes programs awarded in the 2019 application cycle will receive funding for school years 2020-22.
- Timeline: The application cycle is closed. The application to fund school years 2022-24 will open in fall 2021
Educational service district alternative routes grant
- Purpose: The educational service district (ESD) alternative routes grant provides financial aid to teacher candidates enrolled in one ESD’s Alternative Routes program during school years 2019-20 and 2020-21 to pursue an initial residency teaching certificate.
- Grantees: ESDs approved to offer alternative routes
- Funding: Funds are awarded to ESD alternative routes program’s teacher candidates in the form of a scholarship
- Timeline: The grant application is now closed.
Multiple measures pilot
- Purpose: The multiple measures pilot offers greater flexibility for candidates to meet the edTPA requirements. This pilot will help to reduce barriers and allow for more equitable pathways into the teaching profession. A multiple measures process for the edTPA contributes to a culturally responsive and coherent assessment system and ensures a properly credentialed and diverse teacher workforce.
- Grantees: Preparation programs may choose whether they would like to participate in the multiple measures pilot. Programs not participating in the pilot would continue to require a passing score of 40 (or 34 for world and classical languages).)
- Funding: Not applicable.
- Timeline: The pilot is currently in progress.
Recruiting Washington Teachers grant
- Purpose: Recruiting Washington Teachers (RWT) is a high school teacher academy program, founded in equity pedagogy, that aims to help students explore and prepare for careers in education. RWT programs are possible without grant funding — funding is provided with additional requirements and responsibilities.
- Grantees: Washington State school districts and tribal compact schools are eligible to apply. Grant amounts vary.
- Funding: Funding amounts vary, with a maximum funding amount of $30,000 per year for new grantees and $20,000 per year for previously awarded grantees.
- Timeline: This two-year grant is currently accepting applications until April 19, 2021.
Recruiting Washington Teachers – Bilingual Educators Initiative grant
- Purpose: Recruiting Washington Teachers – Bilingual Educators Initiative (RWT-BEI) is a high school teacher academy program to recruit, prepare, and mentor bilingual students to become future bilingual educators in the state of Washington.
- Grantees: Washington State school districts and tribal compact schools are eligible to apply.
- Funding: Funding amounts vary, with a maximum funding amount of $50,000 per year for new grantees and $40,000 per year for previously awarded grantees.
- Timeline: This two-year grant is currently accepting applications until April 19, 2021.
