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 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.