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)
Washington State Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification
Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification in Washington State are administered by the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB). The PESB website address is www.pesb.wa.gov.
The focus for Alternative Routes is on the shortage areas that we are experiencing in Washington State’s teaching force. According to a report issued by the Superintendent of Public Instruction "Educator Supply and Demand in Washington State, 2007", the following areas have been identified as shortage areas in our state's public schools:
Secondary Mathematics, Secondary Science including Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Physics, Middle Level Math, Middle Level Science, English Language Learner, Bilingual Education, Early Childhood Special Education and Special Education.
Alternative Route Programs are designed to address shortage areas in Washington state’s teaching force. Scholarships are available to assist candidates with earning shortage area endorsements. If you are seeking a scholarship to teach in an Elementary classroom, in order to complete your teaching service requirement you must earn a Bilingual, English Language Learner or Special Education endorsement along with your K-8 endorsement.
If a school district can verify that Chinese is a shortage area and you are earning a Designated World Language endorsement in Chinese, you may receive a scholarship and complete your yearlong mentored internship requirement in a Designated World Language classroom in a Washington state public school. To avoid repayment of the conditional loan scholarship, recipients must teach for two years in a Washington state public school in the endorsement area earned. As an Alternative Route scholarship recipient, if you earn an endorsement in Designated World Language in Chinese, then your teaching service must be in a Designated World Language classroom in a district that that has verified that Chinese is a shortage area.
Pacific Lutheran University has an approved Alternative Route to Certification program and is also approved to offer the Chinese endorsement. Other teacher preparation programs in Washington state that are approved to offer an endorsement in Chinese are:
- Central Washington University
- Seattle University
- University of Puget Sound
- University of Washington – Seattle
For more information on Alternative Route Programs at Pacific Lutheran University please contact:
Pacific Lutheran University
The School of Education and Movement Studies
Telephone: 253-535-7272
Web address: educ@plu.edu
General information about teacher certification can be accessed at www.k12.wa.us – click on “certification”.
Individuals may view any posted vacancies to teach Chinese at www.wateach.com. Applicants can submit their applications on-line.
For further information, contact:
Mea Moore
Coordinator of Educator Programs & Standards
Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB)
PO BOX 47236
Olympia, WA 98504
1-360-725-6276
FAX: 1-360-586-4548
http://www.pesb.wa.gov
Mea.Moore@k12.wa.us
(updated 4/5/2009)