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.