PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR

[Filed June 6, 2025, 12:02 p.m.]

Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 25-09-090.

Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 181-78A-225 Acceptance of alternative standards and additions to national standards for school counselor and school psychologist preparation programs.

Hearing Location(s): On July 24, 2025, at 8:00 a.m., virtually via Zoom meeting. A Zoom link to join the meeting will be available several weeks prior to the meeting on the website at https://www.pesb.wa.gov/about-us/board-meetings/.

Date of Intended Adoption: July 24, 2025.

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 8:00 a.m., Monday, July 21, 2025.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact PESB, phone 360-725-6275, email pesb@k12.wa.us, by Thursday, July 10, 2025.

Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) standards were updated, so updates to the PESB program standards are necessary additions due to the new standards adopted by CACREP.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: PESB standards and CACREP standards were aligned, so updates are according to this alignment.

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: Michael Nguyen, P.O. Box 47236, 600 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7236, 360-489-4471; Implementation: Jeffrey Youde, P.O. Box 47236, 600 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7236, 360-870-0143; 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 24-24-096, filed 12/3/24, effective 1/3/25)

WAC 181-78A-225Acceptance of alternative standards and additions to national standards for school counselor and school psychologist preparation programs.

(1) For a given program, the professional educator standards board may allow the substitution of alternative national standards for program approval standards for school counselor and school psychologist program approval, if they are deemed by the board to be equivalent to the board-adopted national standards for the role (WAC 181-78A-220 (2) through (5)).

(2) The professional educator standards board has deemed necessary the following additions to the standards adopted by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP):

WAC 181-78A-232 (1)(a) and (2)(d); 181-78A-233 (2)(c) and (3)(c); ((181-78A-234 (2)(c) and (d);)) 181-78A-235 (1)(b), (2)(b) ((and (d))), and (3)(b) and (c)((; and 181-78A-236 (1)(a), (2)(c) and (f), and (4)(a))).

(3) The professional educator standards board has deemed necessary the following additions to the standards adopted by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP):

WAC 181-78A-232 (2)(d); 181-78A-233 (2)(c); 181-78A-234 (1)(a) and (b), (2)(a), (c), and (d); 181-78A-235 (1)(b), (2)(a), (b), and (d), (3)(b) and (c); 181-78A-236 (2)(c) and (f); and 181-78A-237 (1)(b).

(4) The professional educator standards board may allow the substitution of national standards (e.g., the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) teacher education standards) for program approval with any additions deemed necessary by the professional educator standards board. National standards may also be approved for programs in specific endorsement areas if they are deemed to be equivalent to state standards.