PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR

[Filed July 20, 2023, 8:24 a.m.]

Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 23-08-015.

Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 181-82A-210 and 181-82A-212, specialty endorsement policy.

Hearing Location(s): On September 28, 2023, at 8 a.m., in Spokane, Washington. Exact meeting location and a link to listen to the meeting virtually will be available several weeks prior to the meeting. More information regarding this can be found on our website https://www.pesb.wa.gov/about-us/board-meetings/.

Date of Intended Adoption: September 28, 2023.

Submit Written Comments to: Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB), P.O. Box 47236, 600 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7236, email pesb@k12.wa.us, by 8 a.m., Monday, September 25, 2023.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact PESB, phone 360-725-6275, email pesb.k12.wa.us, by Thursday, September 14, 2023.

Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Repeal of WAC 181-82A-210 regarding who can propose adding a new specialty endorsement and amending WAC 181-82A-212 regarding who can offer a specialty endorsement.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: PESB decided that changes were needed to [create a] specialty endorsement policy.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 28A.410 RCW.

Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 28A.410 RCW.

Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

Name of Proponent: PESB, governmental.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Jisu Ryu, P.O. Box 47236, 600 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7236, 360-867-8510; and Enforcement: Erica Hernandez-Scott, P.O. Box 47236, 600 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7236, 360-890-2443.

A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.

A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328.

This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal:

Is exempt under RCW 19.85.025(3) as the rules adopt, amend, or repeal a procedure, practice, or requirement relating to agency hearings; or a filing or related process requirement for applying to an agency for a license or permit.

Scope of exemption for rule proposal:

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 22-08-101, filed 4/5/22, effective 5/6/22)

WAC 181-82A-212Proposal process for an organization to be approved to offer 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))The following organizations are eligible to apply to offer a specialty endorsement:

(a) Professional educator standards board approved educator preparation program providers; or

(b) Other organizations maintaining status as approved in-service education agencies under WAC 181-85-045 in partnership with a 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 WAC 181-85-204;

(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 12 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 12-month timeline to complete requirements for recommendation.

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

The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:

Proposal process for a new specialty endorsement in Washington state.