Overview
Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) review for principal and teacher preparation programs began in the 2025-26 school year. About a year before your program’s scheduled review season, PESB staff will reach out to begin the review process.
PESB is committed to prioritizing the following values while implementing and guiding the C&I review process:
- High standards for preparation programs
- Program improvement and accountability
- Opportunities for reflection and growth
- Clear expectations and manageable timelines
- Educator and student success
C&I review is designed to complement and enhance the current program review structures. It does not replace initial review and indicator-based review models.
- Guiding questions: To what degree do the program’s processes and outcomes align with the PESB domains 2 and 6?
- How is the program demonstrating outputs, processes, and outcomes?
- How is the program assessing performance to design, develop, and implement improvement initiatives?
- How is the program utilizing curriculum and field experiences to ensure that candidates are knowledgeable and prepared for their role?
Click here to view the related WAC
Review process
The C&I review model is consistent with the Board’s current review practices. However, unlike initial review and annual performance indicators which examine every domain, the C&I review model only focuses on domains 2 and 6 of the PESB program standards.
Review activities
- Programs will submit their required evidence into shared digital folders.
- A review team will analyze the evidence and conduct focused interviews at a virtual site visit with program faculty, program leaders, and other key personnel to gather information about practices focused on domains 2 and 6.
- The review team will then prepare a report describing the degree to which programs are meeting domains 2 and 6.
- Programs will have the opportunity to speak to the report findings and respond to board members’ questions at a board meeting within six months of their review.
- The Board will make a decision about the program’s approval status (WAC 181-78A-110).
All meetings, including the site visit, will be convened in a virtual format to reduce the costs and burdens associated with travel.
Review criteria and rubrics
The C&I review is based on PESB program standards 2 & 6 which focuses on developing educators. Programs are evaluated at the domain area level (i.e. 2.A, 2.B, etc.).
- Teacher Preparation Program C&I Rubric
- Principal Preparation Program C&I Rubric
Review team composition
In accordance with WAC 181-78A-100, review teams for the C&I review consist of the following members:
- One PESB staff member to serve as review chair (not in an evaluative role)
- At least two representatives from peer preparation programs
- At least one P-12 practitioner familiar with the program/provider
- At least one member of the program’s Professional Educator Advisory Board (PEAB)
- Two individuals with expertise related to culturally responsive practice and social emotional learning. PESB staff are seeking recommendations to fill these roles. If you or someone you know might be interested in serving on a review team, please connect with us to learn more.
Review schedule
Click here to view the finalized PESB review calendar. This calendar is subject to change, as noted in the document. PESB staff will reach out about one year before your scheduled review season.
Development
In July 2021, the PESB board approved adding a curriculum and instruction component to their ongoing review of teacher and principal preparation programs. We have designed the new review model to align with our existing review practices through a structure that programs will find familiar and manageable. The new review model responds to several legislative changes surrounding educator preparation programs, including upholding social-emotional learning standards (2020), implementing culturally responsive pedagogical practices (2021), and eliminating the edTPA as a state-required assessment (2021).
In 2022, PESB convened the Standards, Approval, and Review (SAR) committee. The committee and subcommittee members represented the needs of their various preparation program providers and partners. Over the course of five meetings, they provided input on the alignment and implementation of state policies, processes, and systems related to preparation program standards, approval and review. In January 2023, PESB Board members reviewed and supported the recommendations from the SAR committee. Members further discussed and guided PESB staff regarding the implementation of their recommendations.
One SAR committee recommendation was to ensure a learning period before implementing the Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) review. SAR committee members suggested and the Board supported implementation of a new Community of Practice. As a result, in 2023, PESB launched the Community of Practice, including professional learning community modules and a formative review process to lay the foundation for the C&I review. As part of the Community of Practice, PESB has also partnered with educator preparation programs to develop program review rubrics, which were used during formative reviews and refined based on program and reviewer feedback after each formative review.
