The Professional Certificate Program in Washington State

January 8, 2008

The Basics• As of  September 1, 2000, beginning teachers

receive Residency Certificates as their first Washington teaching certificate.

• After completing provisional status (usually after 2 years of teaching) the Residency Certificate is valid for 5 more years. Within this five-year period, teachers are expected to earn the second level teaching certificate, the Professional Certificate

Program Structure• Most programs require 15 quarter (or 12 semester)

credits -- some are very structured, others have more flexibility in what these 15 credits include. Programs generally take about 2 years to complete.

• The Professional Certificate Program was designed to be performance-based -- it is supposed to focus your learning on what will be of most use to you in your current teaching assignment.

• One change currently in process is that one of the products of the program, a portfolio with evidence of your positive impact on student learning, will be evaluated “uniformly” at the state-level.

When and Where Can A Teacher Start?

• Typically you would wait until your third year of teaching, but you could start sooner or later with your district’s approval. The rule is that to begin a program you must hold a contract as a teacher in a public or approved private school and must provide a letter from your district supporting your entrance into a Professional Certificate Program.

• Most 4 year colleges and universities in the state offer a Professional Certificate Program -- and other options (e.g., ESD programs) may be forthcoming.

Other Ways to Earn the Professional Certificate

• If you earn National Board Certification, that automatically gives you the Professional Certificate and possibly an increase in pay-- but earning National Board Certification is likely to be a longer and more expensive process.

• For an out-of-state teacher with five or more years of teaching experience, it may be possible to earn the Professional Certificate by only doing the first phase of the Professional Certificate Program (the pre-assessment phase).

A Little More on National Board Certification -- also see http://www.nbpts.org/

• This process will likely take 1.5 - 3 years and the current cost to NBPTS is $3000.

• You submit four portfolio entries. Three are classroom based, and include video recordings and examples of student work. A fourth entry relates to your accomplishments outside of the classroom – with families, the community or colleagues

• You also complete Assessment Center Exercises to demonstrate content knowledge in response to six exercises developed for your chosen certificate area.

A Few Words About Evergreen’s Current ProCert Program

• 3 non-elective classes, for 9 total credits are required (current cost about $1500); time from start to finish is approximately 18 months.

• 6 “elective credits” selected as part of your PGP development -- the cost is variable as these credits/clock hours can be taken from a wide variety of institutions

Professional Certificate Terminology

• Professional growth team is the team that approves the “plan” (described on the next slide) and is comprised of the candidate, a colleague specified by the candidate, a college or university advisor, and a representative from the school district in which the candidate teaches.

• Professional growth plan (PGP) is the individualized plan of professional development created by the candidate and approved by the professional growth team.

The PGP is more or less a “contract” that describes several areas (foci) for improvement, and includes a description of the new skills and knowledge to be gained, the learning experiences to be completed (courses, workshops, etc.), and descriptions of how this learning will benefit K-12 students.

• Pre-assessment seminar is the first part of the program during which candidates develop a Professional Growth Plan with the help of their Professional Growth Team.

• Core is the middle of the program during which candidates develop in their chosen areas through taking courses, workshops, and other professional growth activities

• Culminating seminar is the final part of the program, during which the candidate will complete a portfolio that demonstrates that the standards have been met and that the candidate has had a positive impact on student learning.

Professional Certificate Standards and Criteria

• There are three Professional Certificate Standards: I. Effective Teaching, II. Professional Development, and III. Professional Contributions

• Under each standard are some more specific criteria, for a total of 12 criteria. These criteria help guide teachers in selecting areas for professional growth.

Effective Teaching Criteria1. Using instructional strategies that make

learning meaningful and show positive impact on student learning.

2. Using a variety of assessment strategies and data to monitor and improve instruction.

3. Using appropriate classroom management principles, processes, and practices to foster a safe, positive, student focused learning environment.

Effective Teaching Criteria, cont.4. Designing and/or adapting challenging

curriculum that is developmentally appropriate.

5. Demonstrating cultural sensitivity in teaching and in relationships with students, families, and community members.

6. Integrating technology into instruction and assessment.

7. Informing, involving, and collaborating with families and the community as partners in the educational process.

Professional Development Criteria

8. Evaluating the effects of his/her teaching through feedback and reflection.

9. Using professional standards and district criteria to assess professional performance and plan and implement appropriate growth activities.

10.Remaining current in subject areas, theories, practice, research, and ethical practice

Professional Contributions Criteria

11. Advocating for curriculum, instruction, and learning environments that meet the diverse needs of each student

12. Participating collaboratively in school improvement activities and contributing to collegial decision-making

Group Activity

• Groups of 3 each work with one assigned criteria• For your assigned criteria, describe two areas of

focus that seem to fall within that criteria. • For each area of focus you identify, describe one

professional growth activity that would likely help a teacher improve in that area.

• You will then share your group’s results with the rest of the class.

Completing a Self-Assessment using the Pro Cert Criteria

• Complete the self-assessment, using the form provided, as a prelude to developing a professional growth plan. If you would like to type it you can find the electronic version at our MIT 2008 website.

Completing Your Professional Growth Plan

• Complete a draft of your PGP now using the PGP form -- using your self assessment, select 2 foci for growth and then chose one proposed growth activitity for each.

AFTER THIS WORKSHOP AND BEFORE NEXT MONDAY • For your portfolio and for the MIT Program’s records, create

a typed version of your PGP by downloading the form from our MIT 2008 website.

• Print a copy of the PGP for your portfolio and email a copy to Scott.

You will also revisit your PGP on Thursday, March 6, when you will put it into a PowerPoint format along with a video clip -- so please save it on a thumb drive, laptop, etc.