Purpose: This proposed rule revises policy around specialty endorsements. Under this rule, teachers, administrators, and educational staff associates would be able to add a specialty endorsement to their certificate. In addition, this rule clarifies a process for adding a specialty endorsement to the state system. Currently, teacher preparation programs can offer a specialty endorsement. This rule provides a process for other organizations to apply to offer a specialty endorsement. This rule revises and updates current policy. This rule reflects the recommendations of a stakeholder workgroup convened by the professional educator standards board. This rule allows for the assets that community organizations can bring to professional learning for educators.

(1) The following specialty endorsements may only be added to an existing endorsed ((teaching))teacher certificate:

(((1)))(a) Environmental and sustainability education.

(((2)))(b) Teacher of the visually impaired. Upon adoption of a content knowledge assessment by the professional educator standards board, teacher of the visually impaired will be available as an endorsement. Until adoption, teacher of the visually impaired will be available as a specialty endorsement.

(((3)))(c) Gifted education.

(((4)))(d) Elementary mathematics specialist.

(((5)))(e) Other specialty endorsements as approved by the professional educator standards board.

(2) The following specialty endorsements may be added to an existing administrator certificate, educational staff associate certificate, or endorsed teacher certificate:

(a) Elementary computer science.

(b) Secondary computer science.

(3) Providers approved by the professional educator standards board may recommend a candidate for a specialty endorsement to the superintendent of public instruction.

Organizations seeking the creation of a new specialty endorsement in Washington state follow a two-phase process including a preproposal and a proposal.

(1) Preproposal. The applicants must submit a preproposal declaring an intent to submit a proposal for the creation of a new specialty endorsement in Washington state. The preproposal will address all requirements published by the board including, but not limited to, the following. The preproposal will:

(a) Provide the name of the specialty endorsement;

(b) Identify at least two organizations submitting the proposal for the new specialty endorsement. These organizations must be eligible to serve as in-service education agencies under WAC 181-85-045;

(c) Identify the proposed essential learnings for the specialty endorsement, or describe the plan to develop the essential learnings;

(d) Describe how the specialty endorsement is aligned and responsive to the cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion (CCDEI) standards under RCW 28A.410.260. Until the CCDEI standards are adopted by the board, the proposers will describe how the specialty endorsement is aligned and responsive to the cultural competency standards published by the board; and

(e) Describe the need for the specialty endorsement, demonstrating response to educator, student, and community needs.

(2) Proposal. If the preproposal receives approval from the professional educator standards board, the proposers shall submit a proposal. The proposal will address all requirements published by the board including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) Identify any changes to the preproposal information since the preproposal was submitted;

(b) Letter of commitment from at least two organizations interested in seeking approval to offer the specialty endorsement. If the organizations submitting letters of commitment are the same organizations who are submitting the proposal, the proposal must include at least one letter of support from an additional organization;

(c) Pilot. The proposal will include a description of the pilot of essential learnings for the specialty endorsement including, but not limited to:

(i) Report on the diversity of pilot participants;

(ii) Description of how the pilot was aligned and responsive to the cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion (CCDEI) standards under RCW 28A.410.260. Until the CCDEI standards are adopted by the board, the proposers will describe how the pilot was aligned and responsive to the cultural competency standards published by the board;

(iii) Approved specialty endorsement providers may consider work completed by an individual in a specialty endorsement pilot towards meeting the requirements for recommendation for a specialty endorsement.

Organizations seeking approval to offer a specialty endorsement follow a one-phase proposal process.

(1) Organizational eligibility:

(a) Organizations eligible to apply for approval as a specialty endorsement program provider include those eligible to serve as an in-service education agency under WAC 181-85-045.

(b) In order to offer a specialty endorsement, providers must maintain status as an approved in-service education agency or professional educator standards board approved educator preparation program provider.

(2) Proposal process. The prospective provider will submit a proposal that addresses all requirements published by the board including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) Description of how the organization will determine that a participant has met the requirements for the specialty endorsement, including the essential learnings;

(b) Statement of need for the provider offering the specialty endorsement, demonstrating response to educator, student, and community needs;

(c) Description of strategies and practices the organization will use to recruit and retain participants from historically excluded groups, including participants of color;

(d) Description of how the provider will implement the specialty endorsement offering in a manner aligned and responsive to the cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion (CCDEI) standards under RCW 28A.410.260. Until the CCDEI standards are adopted by the board, the proposer will describe how the provider will implement the specialty endorsement offering in a manner aligned and responsive to the cultural competency standards published by the board;

(e) At least two letters of support from education or community-related organizations; and

(f) Organizational capacity to support participants in completing a specialty endorsement.

(3) Reapproval, rescindment, and disapproval.

(a) Specialty endorsement program providers approved under this section must complete a reapproval process every five years per a schedule posted by the professional educator standards board.

(b) The board, upon receipt of a serious complaint from any source, or upon its own initiative prompted by indications of the need for response, may require a provider to complete the reapproval process.

(c) Approved providers that voluntarily rescind their approval shall be permitted to continue to prepare and recommend for a specialty endorsement. Candidates who have been previously admitted to the program, provided that no recommendations for credentials will be accepted later than twelve months following receipt of the formal letter to rescind provider approval. The provider will notify all currently enrolled candidates of the provider's change in status and notify candidates of the twelve-month timeline to complete requirements for recommendation.

(d) Disapproved specialty endorsement programs may reapply for approval by following the specialty endorsement approval process.