Paraeducator Training

Classes are offered on the following dates and provided by the ESD :

• For Elementary Paras: 8 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Aug. 31 on Zoom OR
  8 a.m. to noon Thursday, March 10, 2022 on Zoom. 
• For Secondary Paras: 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5 on Zoom

These dates were selected to take place during parent/teacher conferences so subs are not required. Please sign up for the class that is held during your conference window. If you work in an elementary, please sign up for the Tuesday, Aug. 31 class. If you work in a middle or high school, please sign up for the Friday, Nov. 5 class.

Click here to register for this course on Pro Dev.

Once you complete the course, the ESD will send a list of attendees. Please allow a few days for the paperwork to make it to Richland and for us to process the attendance information and update your completion records.

FCS02 can now be completed by selecting courses in Vector (formerly known as SafeSchools) under Early Childhood and/or Instruction and Learning for a total of 4 hours. See the course description here to identify the exact course titles you must complete. As a reminder, this is a 4-hour credit course. You must complete at least 4 hours from the identified courses listed under the Early Childhood and/or Instruction and Learning headings.

Once you have completed at least 4 hours of the identified courses for FCS02, please send your completion certificates with your name and the course names clearly displayed on the certificates (all in one email) to Mindy Thomas (melinda.thomas@rsd.edu). She will update your completion records.

The Vector website can be found here: www.rsd-wa.safeschools.com.

FCS03 can now be completed by one of the two methods listed below: 

Option 1: 

Select courses in Vector (formerly known as SafeSchools) under Technology for a total of 2 hours. See the course description here to identify the exact course titles you must complete. Once you have completed at least 2 hours of the identified courses for FCS03, please send your completion certificates with your name and the course names clearly displayed on the certificate (all in one email) to Mindy Thomas (melinda.thomas@rsd.edu). She will update your completion records.

The Vector website can be found here: www.rsd-wa.safeschools.com.

Option 2: 

Select 1 hour of courses in Vector (formerly known as SafeSchools) under the Technology heading. See the course description here to identify the exact titles you need to complete AND completing modules 5 AND 7 from the What We Do Matters online training site through OSPI. Once you have completed all part of this course, send your completion certificates with your name and the course names clearly displayed on the certificates (all in one email) to Mindy Thomas (melinda.thomas@rsd.edu). She will update your completion records.

The Vector website can be found here: www.rsd-wa.safeschools.com. 

OSPI’s What We Do Matters website can be found here: https://moodle1.ospi.k12.wa.us/enrol/index.php?id=73

You can get credit for this course by completing module 8 from OSPI’s What We Do Matters Modules. You can access this module by clicking on the link below.

What We Do Matters

After you complete the What We Do Matters module on OSPI website, it is your responsibility to email your completion certificate to Mindy Thomas. Please make sure your completion record includes your name and the date you completed the What We Do Matters course.

FCS05 can now be completed by selecting courses in Vector (formerly known as SafeSchools) under Human Resources for a total of 3 hours. See the course description here to identify the exact course titles you must complete.

Once you have completed at all the required courses for FCS 05, please send your completion certificates with your name and the course names clearly displayed on the certificates (all in one email) to Mindy Thomas (melinda.thomas@rsd.edu). She will update your completion records.

The Vector website can be found here: www.rsd-wa.safeschools.com. 

Classes are offered on the following dates and provided by the ESD :

• For Elementary Paras: 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Sept. 1 on Zoom OR
  9 a.m. to noon Friday, March 11, 2022 on Zoom
• For Secondary Paras: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, 2022 on Zoom

These dates were selected to take place during parent/teacher conferences so subs are not required. Please sign up for the class that is held during your conference window. If you work in an elementary, please sign up for the Wednesday, Sept. 1 class. If you work in a middle or high school, please sign up for the Friday, Feb. 25, 2022 class.

Click here to register for this course on Pro Dev.

Once you complete the course, the ESD will send a list of attendees. Please allow a few days for the paperwork to make it to Richland and for us to process the attendance information and update your completion records.

Classes are offered on the following dates and provided by Richland School District’s Special Education Department.

• For Elementary Paras: 8:45 to 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1 in the TLAC Board Room, 6972 Keene Road in West Richland.
• For Secondary Paras: 11:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5 in the TLAC Board Room, 6972 Keene Road in West Richland.

These dates were selected to take place during parent/teacher conferences so subs are not required. Please sign up for the class that is held during your conference window. If you work in an elementary, please sign up for the Wednesday, Sept. 1 class. If you work in a middle or high school, please sign up for the Friday, Nov. 5 class.

Click here to register for this course on Pro Dev.

You can get credit for this course by completing modules 2 and 13 from OSPI’s What We Do Matters Modules. You can access these modules by clicking on the link below. 

What We Do Matters

Complete modules 2 AND 13 (both must be completed to get credit for this course). After you complete the What We Do Matters modules on OSPI’s website, it is your responsibility to email your completion certificates to Mindy Thomas. Please make sure your completion record includes your name and the date you completed the What We Do Matters course.

You can complete this course through SafeSchools/Vector. This will count toward the FCS09 requirement (1-hour) but must be completed within the current school year for credit.

To complete the requirements for FCS09, you must select one of the following combinations of courses:

• Bloodborne Pathogens + Asthma + Allergies, or
• Bloodborne Pathogens + Child Abuse, or
• Child Abuse + Asthma + Allergies

Choose the “View Library” tab at the bottom of the “My Assignments” opening page and type the title in the “Search” box at the top right of the next page.  The exact titles for the combinations listed above are:

• Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Prevention: Full course- Including HIV (Washington)
• Health Emergencies: Asthma Awareness (full course, Washington)
• Health Emergencies: Life-Threatening Allergies (full course, Washington)
• Child Abuse: Identification & Intervention (full course)

Click here to go to the website. Your user name is your RSD email address.

After you complete the combination of the modules listed above, it is your responsibility to email your completion certificates to Mindy Thomas.  Please make sure your completion record includes your name and the date you completed the courses (the courses must be completed in the same school year).

Classes are offered on the following dates and provided by Richland School District’s Special Education Department.

• For Elementary Paras: 12:15 to 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1 in the TLAC Board Room, 6972 Keene Road in West Richland. 
• For BOTH Elementary and Secondary Paras: 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15 in the TLAC Board Room, 6972 Keene Road in West Richland.

These dates were selected to take place during parent/teacher conferences so subs are not required. Please sign up for the class that is held during your conference window. If you work in an elementary, please sign up for the Wednesday, Sept. 1 class. If you work in a middle or high school, please sign up for the Monday, Nov. 15 class.

Click here to register for this course on Pro Dev.

FCS11 can now be completed by selecting courses in Vector (formerly known as SafeSchools) under Communication Basics for a total of 2 hours. See the course description here to identify the exact course titles you must complete. 

Once you have completed at all the required courses for FCS 05, please send your completion certificates with your name and the course names clearly displayed on the certificates (all in one email) to Mindy Thomas (melinda.thomas@rsd.edu). She will update your completion records.

The Vector website can be found here: www.rsd-wa.safeschools.com. 

You can get credit for this course by completing modules 2, 11, and 12 from OSPI’s What We Do Matters Modules. You can access these modules by clicking on the link below.

What We Do Matters

Complete modules 2, 11 AND 12 (all three modules must be completed to get credit for this course). After you complete the What We Do Matters modules on OSPI’s website, it is your responsibility to email your completion certificates to Mindy Thomas. Please make sure your completion record includes your name and the date you completed the What We Do Matters course.

You can complete several Vector (formerly known as SafeSchools) courses to earn clock hours toward your General Para Certificate. Below are two documents designed to walk you through the process. 

Vector Courses                  

Clock Hours Q&A

Paraeducator Clock Hour Presentation PowerPoint

Paraeducator Clock Hour Training Video

You also have the option to attend courses to earn continuing education credit hours.

The General Paraeducator Certificate courses use the same professional development measurements as certified staff. Continuing education credit hours, known as clock hours, are for Washington educators who want to earn and keep track of professional development. Watch this helpful video detailing how clock hours fit into the certificate program.

All training sessions must meet at least one of the five General Paraeducator Certificate’s Standards of Practice and must come from approved clock hour providers, defined in WAC.

The five standards are:

1. Supporting instructional opportunities
2. Demonstrating professionalism and ethical practices
3. Supporting a positive and safe learning environment
4. Communicating effectively and participating in the team process
5. Demonstrating cultural competency

Each standard has its own knowledge and skill competencies that paraeducators must receive training on to meet the program requirements. Click here to view the standards of practice.

Richland School District offers opportunities to attend professional development regularly. Click here to find a course on the Richland School District Pro Dev site. It is your responsibility to ensure the course you attend aligns with at least one of the five General Paraeducator Certificate’s Standards of Practice identified above.

A few reminders about clock hours:

1. There are two requirements to be eligible for clock hours that must be completed:
   • Participants must be registered for the course prior to the start of the course
   • Participants must complete the signature form (google forms) at the training
2. State policy does not allow districts to issue retroactive clock hours
   • Participants that do not complete both parts of step one will not be eligible for clock hours

After the session, complete the course survey to receive a clock hour form. Upload the clock hour form to your EDS account on OSPI’s website (the same account you created when you submitted your FCS paperwork to OPSI).

As a reminder, save all clock hour forms in a safe place. It is your responsibility to retain a copy of your course completion information.  

 

This is a subject matter certificate and is available for those who wish to further their skills in special education instruction. This certificate is optional and is NOT required. To earn this subject matter certificate, you must complete the 20 hours of professional development in the subject area certificate. This training is provided by OSPI.

This certificate does require a fee of $54 to obtain the certificate from OSPI and expires after 5 years. To renew a subject matter certificate, paraeducators must complete 20 clock hours during the validity period of the certificate. The application for renewal must be submitted to OSPI during the last year of a currently valid certificate.

The 20 hours for this certificate can count toward the 70 required hours for the General Paraeducator Certificate.  Click here to enroll in this course.

This is a subject matter certificate and is available for those who wish to further their skills when working with English Language Learners. This certificate is optional and is NOT required. To earn this subject matter certificate, you must complete the 20 hours of professional development in the subject area certificate.

This certificate does require a fee of $54 to obtain the certificate from OSPI and expires after 5 years. To renew a subject matter certificate, paraeducators must complete 20 clock hours during the validity period of the certificate. The application for renewal must be submitted to OSPI during the last year of a currently valid certificate.

The 20 hours for this certificate can count toward the 70 required hours for the General Paraeducator Certificate. Click here to enroll in this course.

This course is currently under development by PESB. As soon as any information is released, we will update this section.

Paraeducators enrolled in college courses can use their college credits towards their general certificate. Any credit taken on or after July 1, 2019 can count towards their general certificate.

Professional growth plans (PGPs) are job-embedded, self-directed professional development. To complete a PGP, educators set their own goals, align them to certificate standards, design an action plan, and collect evidence documenting their growth towards achieving their goals. Educators then reflect on the process. There is no cost for an educator to complete a PGP. PGPs are equivalent to 25 clock hours.

• Paraeducators can complete up to one PGP to help earn the general certificate.

Click here to learn more about PGPs, rules, and requirements.