Teaching Endorsements. An endorsement is the subject area in which a certified educator is authorized to teach, along with designated grade levels for that area. The endorsement procedure varies by subject. For an endorsement in computer science, a candidate must complete testing requirements and apply online.
The qualifications and procedure for obtaining teaching certification and endorsement are generally determined by the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board in accordance with state law.
Specialty endorsements are endorsements that require a non-specialty endorsement and cannot be held alone. An educator must already hold a teaching certificate with at least one other endorsement before adding a specialty endorsement. Specialty endorsements are offered in:
Computer Science. Computer science generally refers to the science that entails the theory and methods of processing information in computers, as well as the design of computer hardware, software, and applications.
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has adopted computer science learning standards, as directed by statute.
In 2019, the Legislature instituted a requirement that beginning no later than the 2022-23 school year, each school district that operates a high school must, at a minimum, provide an opportunity to access an elective computer science course that is available to all high school students. Districts may also award academic credit for computer science based on student completion of a competency examination that is aligned with state learning standards.
Computer Science and Education Grant Program. The 2019-21 operating budget allocated $1 million in both fiscal year 2020 and fiscal year 2021 for the Computer Science and Education Grant Program to:
The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) shall develop standards for two specialty endorsements in computer science, one in elementary computer science and one in secondary computer science.
PESB must consult with the Superintendent of Public Instruction to confirm that the specialty endorsements reflect the appropriate content necessary to teach computer science in the classroom.
The specialty endorsements must be available to all certificated teachers who hold a valid license and who demonstrate sufficient content knowledge in computer science.
Subject to the availability of funds, the Legislature must appropriate additional funds in the Computer Science Education Grant Program to support teachers with the costs associated with becoming certified, endorsed, or licensed in computer science. Entities eligible for the additional funds in this program include individual teachers, local education agencies, approved professional learning providers, and institutions of higher education located in Washington State.