Purpose
The general paraeducator certificate subcommittee was charged with reviewing sections 7 and 8 of HB 1115 and submitting recommendations to the Board on how paraeducators may meet the requirements to complete the fundamental course of study and the ten days of professional development, allowing for paraeducators to attain the general paraeducator certificate.
Meeting information and materials
| Meeting | Date | Materials |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | December 13, 2017 |
Resources
The general paraeducator certificate was established by HB 1115 (pdf). The Paraeducator Board approved the formation (document) of a subcommittee to review the requirements in the bill concerning this certificate and to submit recommendations to the Board that define how paraeducators may meet the requirements.
Subcommittee product
The subcommittee put forward the following five recommendations (folder) regarding the fundamental course of study and the 10 days of professional development that must be met to attain the general paraeducator certificate. These recommendations were approved by the Paraeducator Board during the January 2018 meeting (folder).
- Define a day as 7 hours. The four-day fundamental course of study is thus 28 hours of professional development.
- Use the recommended course outline (document) and learning objectives for the fundamental course of study.
- Define a day as 7 hours. The 10 days of professional development are thus 70 hours.
- Hours should be defined as clock hours, which contain the following learning areas:
- Paraeducator standards of practice
- Support educational outcomes
- Demonstrate professionalism and ethical practices
- Support a positive and safe learning environment
- Communicate effectively and participate in the team process
- Demonstrate cultural competency.
- To collect and analyze evidence related to student learning
- K-12 Learning frameworks and curriculum alignment
- Research-based instructional strategies and assessment practices
- Content for current or anticipated assignment
- Advocacy for students and leadership
- Mentoring / coaching
- Building a collaborative learning community
- School and district improvement efforts.
- Paraeducator standards of practice
- Use parallel WAC language 181.85.200 governing the in-service education programs awarding clock hours for teachers, for paraeducators.
