Propose a new specialty endorsement

Through the pre-proposal, organizations will demonstrate how they are responding to educator, student, and community needs, as well as provide essential learnings for the proposed specialty endorsement.

Once submitted to PESB, staff will review the pre-proposal and provide detailed feedback. Staff will also recommend whether the pre-proposal is ready for a board presentation, or if it needs revisions that require more time. PESB will provide organizations with guidance for board presentations, including a practice session.

The pre-proposal must include:

• Pre-proposal form (document)
• Cite all sources via works cited list.
• Attach the essential learnings for the specialty endorsement. The essential learnings may be:
  • Existing essential learnings, competencies,  or standards from a community organization, professional association, or national organization;
  • Or, locally developed. If the essential learnings have not yet been developed, please describe the plan to develop them prior to submitting the proposal.

Email the completed materials to prajakta.deshmukh@k12.wa.us by the deadline of your requested board meeting.

If the Board approves the pre-proposal, you will move to the final proposal process. If the Board denies the pre-proposal, you cannot move forward. You may resubmit your pre-proposal reflecting the Board’s feedback.

Essential learnings pilot

Before submitting the final proposal, organizations must pilot their proposed essential learnings with educators or educator candidates. The purpose of the pilot is for the organizations to gather evidence for their proposal demonstrating how the essential learnings and professional learning structure supports the growth of educators and serves an important role in the state. The pilot may be formal or informal and may take place within new or established educational settings, such as an existing professional learning series or endorsement program. There is no minimum number of participants, length of time, or other specific constraints for the pilot, but organizations will want to consider what would support a convincing proposal to the board.

Proposal process

Like the pre-proposal, the proposal undergoes an internal review in which staff provide detailed feedback. Staff also recommend whether the proposal is ready for a board presentation or needs revisions that require more time for a later board meeting date. PESB staff will provide guidance on the board presentation, including a practice session.

• Proposal form (document)
• Cite all sources via works cited list.
• Attach letters of commitment from at least two organizations interested in seeking approval to offer the specialty endorsement. If the two organizations submitting letters of commitment are the same organizations submitting the proposal, please include at least one letter of support from an additional organization.
• Attach the essential learnings for the specialty endorsement. The essential learnings may be:
  • Existing essential learnings, competencies or standards from a community organization, professional association, or national organization;
  • Or, locally developed. If the essential learnings have not yet been developed, please describe the plan to develop prior to submitting the proposal.

Email the completed form and attachment to prajakta.deshmukh@k12.wa.us by the deadline of your requested board meeting.

If the proposal is approved, PESB will add the specialty endorsement to the state system. If the proposal is denied, organizations can resubmit their proposal with changes that reflect the Board’s feedback.

Approved organizations can consider a participant’s work in the pilot towards the requirements for that specialty endorsement. Learn about becoming an approved specialty endorsement provider.

Please email any questions to prajakta.deshmukh@k12.wa.us.

Proposal language should be specific, supported by evidence, and related to a projected outcome, strategy, action, or system. The strongest proposals make clear connections between identified district and community needs, how the specialty endorsement responds to that need, and how the essential learnings and structure supports the growth of educators.

Additional tips

• Proposals are formal documents. Review and check all materials for completion prior to submitting. PESB staff will not accept incomplete submissions.
• Board members review several documents for meetings. Proposal language should be concise, direct, and avoid redundancies. You can cite descriptions from one section of your proposal in another section.
• Cite all sources via works cited list.