As the independent agency responsible for overseeing Washington’s educator workforce policies, the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) works to ensure all students learn from well-trained, equity-minded, professional educators. Guided by the expertise of two governing boards, PESB supports this vision through innovative policies that strengthen educator quality, support workforce development, and expand equitable pathways into the profession.
Legislative framework
Our legislative framework supports policies and strategies that transform Washington’s educational systems to better serve all students and educators. They are inspired by, shaped, and refined through statewide partnerships and continuous collaboration and dialogue with diverse communities. We ask the Legislature to support policies that:
- Strengthen educator quality to support the success of all students
- Expand pathways into the profession to promote diversity
- Increase strategies that influence shortages and retention
Resources
Board agenda highlights
Before each board meeting, legislators and policy staff receive communication summarizing key agenda items.
Recent reports
Access all reports issued by PESB on the reports webpage. Newly issued reports to the Legislature include:
- Educator assessment data report: To earn certification, pre-service educators must complete a PESB-approved preparation program and other required statewide assessments. This report summarizes the annual data for each testing requirement for teacher residency certification. The report is in response to statutes RCW 28A.410.240 and RCW 28A.410.280. Read the report.
- Alternative routes to teacher certification: Four alternative route options are currently available to future educators to earn their residency teaching certificate. These options are specially designed for career changers and district employees to earn their residency teaching certificates through shorter, more flexible, and more affordable programs. Alternative routes are built on strong partnerships between school districts and programs to increase access to the teaching profession and address critical workforce shortages. This report summarizes the ongoing outcomes of those working toward teacher certification through alternative routes. This report is in response to statute RCW 28A.660.020. Read the report.
- Teacher assignment benchmarks for districts: matching of endorsements and courses: Teacher assignment determines which courses an educator can teach based on which endorsements they hold. Assignment policy is used to ensure every student learns from appropriately credentialed educators. This report includes PESB’s assignment policy for teachers, teacher endorsements matched with courses, and details about the assignment of out-of-endorsement teachers by school district. The report is in response to WAC 181-82-100. Read the report.
- Professional educator collaborative final report: This report, written by Education Northwest, summarizes final recommendations of the professional educator collaborative workgroup. The workgroup, which included PESB staff, was established by the Washington Legislature to “make recommendations on how to improve and strengthen state policies, programs, and pathways that lead to highly effective educators at each level of the public common school system” (E2SHB 1139, 2019). Read the report.
- Educator shortage report (2021): The educator shortage in Washington requires complex solutions, policy innovation, and collective action. Steady progress has been made to reduce educator shortages through innovative strategies and policies at local, regional, and state levels. This report outlines policy recommendations and statewide investments to expand equitable pathways to the profession, scale existing research-based best practices, and strengthen recruitment and retention. Read the report.
2021 legislative summary
- Student, family and community engagement online course: The Legislature funded the development of a new online course on effective student, family, and community engagement for all educators. Through a statewide request for proposals (RFP) process, PESB has selected a contractor to develop the curriculum, facilitate a curriculum review workgroup, and develop the corresponding online course. The course will align with the state’s new family engagement framework, and the curriculum will include in-person resources and group facilitation guides. The course will be developed in spring 2022, piloted in summer 2022, and available for all educators in fall 2022.
- Paraeducator training: The Legislature continued supporting and strengthening the state’s paraeducator workforce by funding two days of training for paraeducators. School districts must provide two days of training to their paraeducators during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years. To support districts in their implementation of training, PESB provides informational webinars, technical assistance, and hosts virtual share fairs to facilitate collaborative district learning about effective strategies in providing training to their paraeducators.
- Removing the edTPA as a state requirement for teacher certification (2SHB 1028): The Legislature eliminated the statewide portfolio assessment, or edTPA, as a requirement for teacher certification. PESB developed resources and held virtual workshops to support preparation programs in their policy implementation efforts. Learn more.
- Cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion standards (ESSB 5044): The Legislature directed PESB to review and revise Washington’s current educator standards and ensure the alignment of those standards with cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion (CCDEI) practices. The revised standards will apply to all educator roles and will be used in the preparation of educator candidates and in professional learning opportunities throughout an educator’s career. Based on extensive input from educators, families, and students across the state, the draft standards have gone through two revisions. PESB is currently leading educator role-specific meetings to gather additional insights to inform the final draft, which will be presented to the PESB and Paraeducator Boards at the January 2022 joint board meeting. Learn more about the CCDEI initiative.
- New certificate renewal requirements (ESHB 1426): Beginning July 1, 2023, teachers and administrators seeking to renew their certificates must meet new professional learning requirements focused on equity-based school practices, educational leadership, and government-to-government relations. PESB has been conducting meetings with education professional associations, school districts, and Educational Service Districts, and continues to host webinars for educators, human resource directors, and school leaders.
Board agenda highlights
Before each board meeting, legislators and policy staff receive communication summarizing key agenda items.
Recent reports
Access all reports issued by PESB on the reports webpage. Newly issued reports to the Legislature include:
- Educator assessment data report: To earn certification, pre-service educators must complete a PESB-approved preparation program and other required statewide assessments. This report summarizes the annual data for each testing requirement for teacher residency certification. The report is in response to statutes RCW 28A.410.240 and RCW 28A.410.280. Read the report.
- Alternative routes to teacher certification: Four alternative route options are currently available to future educators to earn their residency teaching certificate. These options are specially designed for career changers and district employees to earn their residency teaching certificates through shorter, more flexible, and more affordable programs. Alternative routes are built on strong partnerships between school districts and programs to increase access to the teaching profession and address critical workforce shortages. This report summarizes the ongoing outcomes of those working toward teacher certification through alternative routes. This report is in response to statute RCW 28A.660.020. Read the report.
- Teacher assignment benchmarks for districts: matching of endorsements and courses: Teacher assignment determines which courses an educator can teach based on which endorsements they hold. Assignment policy is used to ensure every student learns from appropriately credentialed educators. This report includes PESB’s assignment policy for teachers, teacher endorsements matched with courses, and details about the assignment of out-of-endorsement teachers by school district. The report is in response to WAC 181-82-100. Read the report.
- Professional educator collaborative final report: This report, written by Education Northwest, summarizes final recommendations of the professional educator collaborative workgroup. The workgroup, which included PESB staff, was established by the Washington Legislature to “make recommendations on how to improve and strengthen state policies, programs, and pathways that lead to highly effective educators at each level of the public common school system” (E2SHB 1139, 2019). Read the report.
- Educator shortage report (2021): The educator shortage in Washington requires complex solutions, policy innovation, and collective action. Steady progress has been made to reduce educator shortages through innovative strategies and policies at local, regional, and state levels. This report outlines policy recommendations and statewide investments to expand equitable pathways to the profession, scale existing research-based best practices, and strengthen recruitment and retention. Read the report.
2021 legislative summary
- Student, family and community engagement online course: The Legislature funded the development of a new online course on effective student, family, and community engagement for all educators. Through a statewide request for proposals (RFP) process, PESB has selected a contractor to develop the curriculum, facilitate a curriculum review workgroup, and develop the corresponding online course. The course will align with the state’s new family engagement framework, and the curriculum will include in-person resources and group facilitation guides. The course will be developed in spring 2022, piloted in summer 2022, and available for all educators in fall 2022.
- Paraeducator training: The Legislature continued supporting and strengthening the state’s paraeducator workforce by funding two days of training for paraeducators. School districts must provide two days of training to their paraeducators during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years. To support districts in their implementation of training, PESB provides informational webinars, technical assistance, and hosts virtual share fairs to facilitate collaborative district learning about effective strategies in providing training to their paraeducators.
- Removing the edTPA as a state requirement for teacher certification (2SHB 1028): The Legislature eliminated the statewide portfolio assessment, or edTPA, as a requirement for teacher certification. PESB developed resources and held virtual workshops to support preparation programs in their policy implementation efforts. Learn more.
- Cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion standards (ESSB 5044): The Legislature directed PESB to review and revise Washington’s current educator standards and ensure the alignment of those standards with cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion (CCDEI) practices. The revised standards will apply to all educator roles and will be used in the preparation of educator candidates and in professional learning opportunities throughout an educator’s career. Based on extensive input from educators, families, and students across the state, the draft standards have gone through two revisions. PESB is currently leading educator role-specific meetings to gather additional insights to inform the final draft, which will be presented to the PESB and Paraeducator Boards at the January 2022 joint board meeting. Learn more about the CCDEI initiative.
- New certificate renewal requirements (ESHB 1426): Beginning July 1, 2023, teachers and administrators seeking to renew their certificates must meet new professional learning requirements focused on equity-based school practices, educational leadership, and government-to-government relations. PESB has been conducting meetings with education professional associations, school districts, and Educational Service Districts, and continues to host webinars for educators, human resource directors, and school leaders.
