One of the biggest challenges we face in meeting the goal of having 10% of students in Washington state studying Chinese by 2015 is finding (or preparing) qualified teachers of Chinese language and culture. There are many paths for developing the teaching capacity in our state, and we will report on them as we hear about them.
Residency Teacher Certification with a Chinese Endorsement
1. Requirements:
- Minimum of a baccalaureate degree
- Completion of an approved teacher preparation program
- Pass WEST-B (Basic Skills Test)
- Complete Chinese endorsement program; verify language proficiency
- Fingerprint clearance
2. Options for achieving teacher certification
- Enroll in an undergraduate degree program, major in Chinese and complete the teacher preparation program requirements
- If you already hold a degree in Chinese,
a. Enroll in a “certification only” program (Central Washington University, Pacific Lutheran University, Seattle University, University of Puget Sound, University of Washington – Seattle are approved to offer a Chinese endorsement)
b. If eligible, enroll in an alternative route program www.pesb.wa.gov
- Paraprofessionals with a minimum of three years experience
- Career changers with a minimum of five years work experience
- Individuals hired to teach Chinese with a conditional certificate
3. If you hold a teaching certificate from another country, you will need to have your transcript evaluated (or a university may accept it as equivalent). The required forms may be accessed at www.k12.wa.us/certification/certapp/4030.pdf
4. To teach Chinese in Washington public schools, a residency teaching certificate with a Chinese endorsement is required.
5. Questions about teacher certification should be directed
to:
Dr. Rick Maloney
Rick.Maloney@k12.wa.us or 360-725-6406
6. General questions about alternative routes to teacher certification programs may be directed to:
Dr. Lin Douglas
Lin.Douglas@k12.wa.us or
360-725-4951
Application is made directly to the programs. Contact information may be accessed at www.pesb.wa.gov/AlternativeRoutes/AlternativeRoutes.asp
(prepared by Dr. Lin Douglas January, 2007)
Alternative Route Programs
Here is some initial information that might be helpful.
Alternative Route Programs -- the only program that could currently serve Chinese speakers is Pacific Lutheran University PLU in that none of our other programs are approved to offer a Chinese endorsement. However, in the past, we have assessed language proficiency (i.e. Japanese) via another institution for individuals participating in one of our other programs (City U, St. Martin’s, and a regional consortia program in Yakima).
Eligibility for alternative route programs includes:
Route 1 – employed paraeducators with a minimum of three years experience who hold a transferable AA degree.
Route 2 – employed classified staff with a minimum of three years experience who hold a baccalaureate degree.
Route 3 – mid career changers with a minimum of five years career experience and hold a baccalaureate degree.
Route 4 – individuals employed to teach with a conditional certificate or emergency substitute certificate and hold a baccalaureate degree.
Conditional certificates are requested by a district if it would like to hire someone to teach who has the content expertise, but has not achieved teacher certification. Districts must verify that there are no certificated individuals available. The person may not be considered “highly qualified” for federal compliance purposes unless enrolled in an alt route program.
Route 1 programs typically take 18 – 24 months and involve a year long mentored internship. Participants are not paid during the program, but we make every effort to keep paraeducators employed.
Routes 2- 4 programs typically take 12 months and involve an intensive summer academy followed by a year long mentored internship. Individuals in Route 2 and 3 programs are not paid. Every effort is made to maintain the employment of Route 2 individuals. Route 4 interns are paid inasmuch as they are the “teacher of record.”
All alternative route interns are eligible to receive a conditional loan scholarship if the school district can verify that Chinese is a shortage area. The amount of the scholarship is $8,000. However, there are a limited number of scholarships that must be distributed across all alternative route programs. To receive the scholarship, the intern must complete his/her internship in a PUBLIC school. To avoid repayment of the conditional loan scholarship, the individual must teach two years in a Washington PUBLIC school.
Information about alt routes programs may be accessed at www.pesb.wa.gov.
Individuals interested in pursuing a degree and teacher certification with an endorsement in Chinese may pursue a program at:
- Central Washington University
- Pacific Lutheran University PLU
- Seattle University
- University of Puget Sound UPS
- University of Washington UW – Seattle
Individuals may view any posted vacancies to teach Chinese at www.wateach.com. It’s free and applicants can submit their applications on-line.
General information about teacher certification can be accessed at www.k12.wa.us – click on “certification”.
We will certainly do whatever we can to participate in the recruitment and preparation of teachers of Chinese.
Dr. Lin Douglas
Director of Alternative Route Programs
Professional Educator Standards Board
360-725-4951