In July 2006, the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) accepted a proposal from a collaborative work group whose charge was to examine and identify a process for implementing a professional certificate for administrators. The work group had representatives from WASA, AWSP, the Washington Council of Education Administration Programs (WCEAP), the PESB and several practicing administrators. Feedback for the process was solicited via a focus group at the WASA Superintendent Workshop in May 2006 and the AWSP Assistant Principals Conference in February 2006.

The program is currently being developed. The goal is for candidates to begin the process in fall of 2007. At this time, the process will apply to holders of principal residency certificates, serving principals and assistant principals as well as program administrator residency certificates and similar positions. Superintendent certificates are still issued as initial and continuing certificates, however, they are projected to be included in professional certification in the future.

The proposal has three related recommendations with several discussion points and rationale to justify each recommendation.

CURRENT PROPOSAL UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR STANDARDS BOARD (PESB)

• University administrator preparation programs are developing proposals for professional certification programs to begin in the fall of 2007.
• PESB has modified the current professional certificate benchmarks to better reflect the district role in school improvement.
• PESB has modified the current WAC to authorize the recommendations in the original report.

KEY COMPONENTS

• A structure similar to teacher certification programs—a college or university program with three major components: entry seminar, implementation phase and presentation.

• In the process, candidates will pursue their Professional Growth Plan by gathering evidence on benchmarks and developing capacity in the major areas in which they wish to focus.

• Job-embedded professional development will be key.

• Candidates must have successfully completed two years in their role before they are eligible to begin the professional certification process.

• Professional growth teams will not be a required part of the process for administrators.

For further information, contact the Professional Educators Standards Board or your preferred university.