A prospective provider desiring to establish a preparation program shall comply with the following:
(1) Readiness profile. Prospective providers must submit the appropriate form, published by the professional educator standards board, to apply for approval to offer an educator preparation program or a new educator certification program. The prospective provider will address essential elements aligned to program standards, and include evidence of necessary capacity and resources for projected sustainability of the program for three to five years.
(a) If approved by the board, the prospective provider will move to the preproposal stage.
(b) If denied by the board, the prospective provider may resubmit its readiness profile informed by suggestions of the board.
(c) The readiness profile will expire one year after approval, unless the prospective provider is granted an exception as approved by the board.
(2) Preproposal. The prospective provider will submit the appropriate form, published by the professional educator standards board. The prospective provider will address all requirements approved and published by the board, including domains, components, and other program approval requirements contained in chapter 181-78A WAC, including evidence of projected sustainability of the program. Letters of support from partner districts and/or community agencies must also be included as evidence of how the program will meet Washington educator workforce needs.
(a) If approved by the board, the prospective provider will move to the full proposal stage.
(b) If denied by the board, the prospective provider may resubmit its preproposal informed by suggestions of the board.
(c) The preproposal will expire two years after its approval unless the prospective provider is granted an exception as approved by the board.
(3) Full proposal. The prospective provider will submit the appropriate form, published by the professional educator standards board. The prospective provider will address any and all changes to the previously approved preproposal as well as provide additional evidence of meeting all requirements approved and published by the board and contained in chapter 181-78A WAC.
(a) If approved by the board, the prospective provider may implement the program.
(b) If denied by the board, the prospective provider may resubmit its full proposal informed by suggestions of the board.
(c) The full proposal will expire two years after its approval unless the prospective provider is granted an exception as approved by the board.
(d) Full proposals submitted by prospective providers of school counselor preparation programs shall include evidence of seeking accreditation as soon as eligible by the council for the accreditation for counseling and related education programs.
(e) Full proposals submitted by prospective providers of school psychologist programs shall include evidence of seeking accreditation by the National Association for School Psychologists.
(4) After reviewing a prospective provider's full program proposal, the board may initially approve the program in specific location(s) for a specific period of time. The prospective provider must notify the board when instruction has begun.
(a) Teacher and administrator preparation programs: Approve the program for up to 27 months following the beginning of instruction.
(b) School counselor and school psychologist programs: Approve the program for a time period to align with their respective national association approvals.
(5) Prior to the expiration of initial approval, staff of the board shall conduct a site visit to determine if the program is in full compliance and performance aligned with the state approval requirements. This includes a review of all applicable indicators and domain components for the type of program.
(a) The initial review is a formal review to evaluate recently approved educator preparation programs and consider them for continued approval.
(i) The formal review will incorporate the following elements:
(A) The board shall determine the schedule for formal reviews and the forms of documentation and validation that will be used for evaluation.
(B) Preparation program providers will submit requested evidence to the staff of the board.
(C) A review team will review the evidence and request additional information including information provided through documents and interviews with program provider staff or affiliates as needed. One board staff member will serve as chair on the review team during the review process but will not serve in an evaluative role. Additional members of the review team shall include one member of the program's professional educator advisory board, one P-12 practitioner with expertise related to the program scheduled for review, and two representatives of peer programs. Any two of these review team members, or two additional members must be identified individuals with expertise related to the domains of practice and standard components identified in annual written program feedback analyses.
(ii) The initial review team will use multiple data sources to address the specific goals listed in this section.
(A) The initial review team and the preparation program provider will use annual performance indicator data available at the time of review. Performance of programs on board approved indicators will be used by the review team to write the review report and by the board in consideration of the program's continued approval status.
(B) The initial review team and the preparation program provider will use evidence compiled by the provider that demonstrates performance aligned with all program standards and requirements. Programs' demonstration of upholding board approved standards and requirements will be used by the review team to write the review report and will be used by the board in consideration of continued approval status. Staff of the board will offer program providers guidance regarding the evidence required, how it may be gathered and used, and how it must be submitted.
(C) The initial review team and the preparation program provider will evaluate whether and to what degree the provider of the program under review has implemented the program in alignment with the goals and design for which it was approved. Fidelity to approved program designs and outcomes will be used by the review team to write the review report and by the board in consideration of continued approval status.
(D) The initial review team and the preparation program provider will evaluate whether and to what degree the provider of the program under review has demonstrated continuous improvement in its implementation and outcomes. Providers' ability to demonstrate continuous improvement in processes and outcomes will be used by the review team to write the review report and by the board in consideration of continued approval status.
(iii) Following the review, the review team will provide a report identifying any areas of practice in which program performance is out of alignment with standards and requirements.
(A) The report may also verify or contradict that the approved indicators or thresholds are functioning as intended.
(B) The review team's report and other appropriate documentation will be submitted to the provider and the board within six months of the formal initial review.
(C) Providers may submit a reply to the review team report within three weeks following receipt of the report. The board shall publish the process for submitting and reviewing the reply.
(D) In considering the review team's report, the board may request additional information for review, or take action to extend or change the educator preparation program's approval status.
(iv) Based upon the review team's report, the program provider's response, and any subsequent requests for information, as applicable, the board shall take one of the following actions:
(A) The board shall give full approval as described in WAC 181-78A-110 (1)(a).
(B) Limited approval as described in WAC 181-78A-110 (1)(b).
(C) Disapproval as described in WAC 181-78A-110 (1)(c).
(v) The board's staff may provide technical assistance to providers to help them improve their performance as described in WAC 181-78A-110 (1)(b)(iv).
(b) A provider may request a hearing in instances where it disagrees with the professional educator standards board's decision. This request must be made within 20 days from the decision date. The hearing will be conducted through the office of administrative hearings by an administrative law judge under chapter 34.05 RCW. The provider seeking a hearing will provide a written request to the board in accordance with WAC 10-08-035.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 28A.410 RCW. WSR 26-15-115, s 181-78A-105, filed 7/21/26, effective 8/21/26; WSR 24-08-035, § 181-78A-105, filed 3/26/24, effective 4/26/24; WSR 21-20-052, § 181-78A-105, filed 9/28/21, effective 10/29/21; WSR 21-08-023, § 181-78A-105, filed 3/29/21, effective 4/29/21; WSR 19-12-005, § 181-78A-105, filed 5/22/19, effective 6/22/19; WSR 18-17-089, § 181-78A-105, filed 8/14/18, effective 9/14/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.410.210. WSR 12-20-030, § 181-78A-105, filed 9/27/12, effective 10/28/12; WSR 11-15-049, § 181-78A-105, filed 7/15/11, effective 8/15/11; WSR 11-01-047, § 181-78A-105, filed 12/7/10, effective 1/7/11; WSR 10-08-015, § 181-78A-105, filed 3/29/10, effective 4/29/10; WSR 09-20-109, § 181-78A-105, filed 10/7/09, effective 11/7/09; WSR 06-24-082, § 181-78A-105, filed 12/5/06, effective 1/5/07; WSR 06-14-010, § 181-78A-105, filed 6/22/06, effective 7/23/06. WSR 06-02-051, recodified as § 181-78A-105, filed 12/29/05, effective 1/1/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.305.130 (1) and (2), 28A.410.010 and 28A.150.220(4). WSR 99-01-174, § 180-78A-105, filed 12/23/98, effective 1/23/99.]