Olympia School District

The standards of practice make up the foundation of the certificate program. 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; and
5. Demonstrating cultural competency.

View the knowledge and skill competencies for the FCS and General Certificate

 

The program begins with 28 hours of training that covers the paraeducator standards of practice for the Fundamental Course of Study (FCS). The FCS training is required when funding is provided by the Legislature.

 

The FCS training is required for all OSD K-12 paraeducators (except preschool paraeducators, bus monitors, and LPN’s). This includes security and health room paraeducators. Please note this training is also required for one-year only and temporary positions.

The FCS includes 12 units (see below) for a total of 28 hours of training. Seven hours of the FCS must be in-person. It is the responsibility of the school district to provide this training to paraeducators. Paraeducators should not independently seek out training to meet the FCS requirements to ensure that training meets the required standards and learning objectives. All 28 hours must be completed within the paraeducators first year of employment.

PLEASE NOTE: It is important to keep all original clock hour forms and/or transcripts for your records.

FCS Module Hours:

 

• FCS 01: Introduction to Cultural Identity and Diversity - 4 hours
• FCS 02: Methods of Educational and Instructional Support - 4 hours
• FCS 03: Technology Basics - 2 hours
• FCS 04: Using and Collecting Data - 1 hour
• FCS 05: District Orientation of Roles and Responsibilities - 3 hours
• FCS 06: Equity - 3 hours
• FCS 07: Behavior Management Strategies Including De-Escalation Techniques - 2 hours
• FCS 08: Child and Adolescent Development - 2 hours
• FCS 09: Emergency and Health Safety - 1 hour
• FCS 10: Positive and Safe Learning Environment - 3 hours
• FCS 11: Communication Basics - 2 hours
• FCS 12: Communication Challenges - 1 hour

Total FCS Hours: 28 hours

The Olympia School District will communicate any available FCS training via new hire onboarding materials, district email, employee blog, as well as make it available on the OSD website.

2023-2024 OSD Guide to Paraeducators' Fundamental Course of Study

*Information will be updated as new training opportunities become available.

 

How to View FCS Hours & Clock Hours in Skyward
*Please note that Skyward tracking is a manual process. Completed courses will be updated in Skyward periodically throughout each semester. Thank you for your patience.

 

 

The general certificate includes an additional 70 clock hours of training and does not expire. There is no in-person requirement for the general certificate training.

 

The purpose of the training is to help improve instructional practices. School districts must ensure this training is provided by an approved clock hour provider. 14 hours of general certificate training is required each year until the 70 hours is met. The general certificate training is required when funding is provided by the Legislature.

Training to meet the requirements of the general certificate is broadly conceived. Any clock hour training that will assist the instructional skills of a paraeducator may count. For example, any training that is already provided to teachers can be provided to paraeducators to meet the requirements of this certificate.

You can search and register for available clock hour training through OSD and the ESD 113 via pdEnroller. View the pdEnroller for Paraeducators guide for assistance on creating an account and enrolling in a class.

There is a free option for General Certificate clock hours called a Professional Growth Plan (PGP), that upon completion will provide you with 25 clock hours. Please note that you will need to have a colleague review your PGP that holds a valid WA state certificate.

You may refer to the links and videos below for more information:

• PESB Professional Growth Plans (PGP)
• PESB Professional Growth Plans (PGP) for Paraeducators
• PESB Professional Growth Plans (PGP)  FAQ
• Professional Growth Plan (PGP) Clock Hour Affidavit for OSPI

Payment for clock hours is the responsibility of the paraeducator. Clock hours are $3 per clock hour through pdEnroller. If courses are taken outside of pdEnroller, please contact the host and/or presenter prior to the start of the course to confirm they are on the approval clock hour provider list and to confirm the cost and payment methods.

Paraeducators with a valid Title 181 teaching certificate are only required to complete the Fundamental Course of Study training. Once the FCS is complete, these paraeducators are considered to have met the general certificate requirement and will require no further training. The paraeducator is then responsible for completing filing requirements with the certification office to file for the certificate.

The exemption to the above are educators who only hold limited teaching certificates. If a paraeducator only holds a limited certificate, the paraeducator must complete the general certificate. (WAC)

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.

 

PLEASE NOTE: It is important to keep all original clock hour forms and/or transcripts for your records.

Once all 70 hours have been completed, paraeducators may file via the OSPI E-cert system for their certificate. The cost for the certificate is $74 and is an out-of-pocket expense to the paraeducator.

You will need to have your FCS and General Certificate clock hours and/or transcripts available when applying.

For more information on the E-cert system, please see tab for OSPI E-CERT SYSTEM AND CERTIFICATION PROCESS.

 

Subject Matter Certificates
Subject matter certificates include 20 hours of training for each subject area and expire after 5 years. Paraeducators can only earn a subject matter certificate if they have completed their FCS training. Paraeducators may choose to use subject matter certificate hours towards the general certificate hours.

 

Upon completion of subject matter training, you may use the affidavit below to submit your hours to OSPI if other clock hour documentation was not provided:

OSPI Paraeducator Subject Matter Clock Hours Certificate Affidavit

English Language Learner (ELL)

Learning objectives include language acquisition, cultural competence, and instructional strategies.

• View the knowledge and skill competencies for the ELL Certificate

PESB has provided a free online, self-paced training that meets the requirements for the ELL certificate. You can enroll and begin the training at any time. Once on the site, navigate down to the “ELL Subject Matter Certificate” training and follow the instructions.

Once all 20 hours have been completed, paraeducators may file via the OSPI E-cert system for their certificate. The cost for the certificate is $54 and is an out-of-pocket expense to the paraeducator.

You will need to have your FCS clock hours and/or transcripts available when applying.

For more information on the E-cert system, please see tab for OSPI E-CERT SYSTEM AND CERTIFICATION PROCESS.

Special Education

Learning objectives include special education processes, culturally responsive strategies, and behavioral support.

• View the knowledge and skill competencies for the Special Education Certificate

PESB has provided a free online, self-paced training that meets the requirements for the ELL certificate. You can enroll and begin the training at any time. Once on the site, navigate down to the “Special Education Subject Matter Certificate” training and follow the instructions.

Once all 20 hours have been completed, paraeducators may file via the OSPI E-cert system for their certificate. The cost for the certificate is $54 and is an out-of-pocket expense to the paraeducator.

You will need to have your FCS clock hours and/or transcripts available when applying.

For more information on the E-cert system, please see tab for OSPI E-CERT SYSTEM AND CERTIFICATION PROCESS.

Advanced Paraeducator Certificate

After completing the general certificate, a paraeducator can earn the advanced certificate. This certificate includes an additional 75 clock hours of training on assisting high-impact classrooms, supporting specialized instruction, and mentoring other paraeducators. The advanced paraeducator certificate expires after 5 years.

• View the knowledge and skill competencies for the Advanced Certificate

Once all 75 hours have been completed, paraeducators may file via the OSPI E-cert system for their certificate. The cost for the certificate is $54 and is an out-of-pocket expense to the paraeducator.

You will need to have your FCS and General Certificate clock hours and/or transcripts available when applying.

For more information on the E-cert system, please see tab for OSPI E-CERT SYSTEM AND CERTIFICATION PROCESS.

 

OSPI Resources:

• OSPI E-cert system for Paraeducators
• Certificate Types & How to log clock hours in OSPI E-cert
• OSPI E-cert Paraeducator User Guide
• OSPI EDS Account Quick Start Guide

 

E-CERT FAQ:

 

How do paraeducators create an EDS account?

OSPI’s certification office has created a manual to help paraeducators create an EDS account and file in e-cert the completion of the FCS, and for the subject matter, general and advanced certificates. You may also use the EDS Account Creation quick start guide.

 

If a paraeducator wants to use college credit toward their general certificate, how are those entered into e-cert?
Paraeducators will enter credits in their e-cert account towards the general certificate the same way they enter clock hours. In the e-cert panel labeled “educator professional development hours”, there is a drop-down menu where educators can choose credits or clock hours. Paraeducators should maintain transcripts showing credits earned in the same way they maintain their clock hour forms.

 

For questions regarding the e-cert system or logging clock hours into the system, please contact:

 

OSPI certification office

Phone: (360) 725-6400 

Email: [email protected]

 

 

Fundamental Course of Study

For FCS courses taken within OSD, attendance and tracking will be completed by T&L and HR. There is no need to turn in your clock hour forms and/or transcripts.

For any FCS courses taken outside of OSD (i.e., ESD, previous school district, etc.), employees will need to turn in a copy of their clock hour forms and/or transcripts to HR for tracking purposes. HR does not have access to outside entities.

PLEASE NOTE: It is important to keep all original clock hour forms and/or transcripts for your records.

Pay for asynchronous classes - The expectation is that paraeducators work on the asynchronous courses during their normal working hours or during early release, on half days and during conferences, in which paraeducators are still required to work their normal work hours. Paraeducators may voluntarily use their PD hours to get paid for these courses if they are completed outside their work day. There are no additional funds to pay for FCS courses completed outside the workday.

Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, upon completion of all 28 hours of FCS training, paraeducators will receive a $0.25 differential in hourly pay per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Section 3.7 under Paraeducator Certificate Program.

Please also reference the MOU for Fundamental Course of Study (FCS) Documentation Submission for further clarification regarding the pay differential.

General Certificate

Once the paraeducator has completed all 70 hours of training for their general certification and have completed all steps in E-cert, you should be issued your General Certificate from OSPI.

Once you have received your General Certificate from OSPI, you will need to submit a copy to HR for their records in order to receive your pay differential.

PLEASE NOTE: It is important to keep all original clock hour forms and/or transcripts for your records.

Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, upon completion of all 70 hours of General Certificate training, paraeducators will receive a $1.00 differential in hourly pay per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Section 3.7 under Paraeducator Certificate Program

 

 

 Resources:

• OSD Paraeducator Certificate Program FAQ
• Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) - Paraeducator Certificate Program Components
• PESB Paraeducator Certificate Program FAQ
• How to View FCS Hours & Clock Hours in Skyward

 

 

Have specific questions? Please reach out!

• ESD FCS Clock Hours Taken in 2021-22 SY (and Before): Dianna Avery, ESD 113.
•  OSD FCS Courses: Lisa Estcourt, Teaching & Learning

 

Tracking Questions:

• Elementary Paraeducators - Laura Emmil, Human Resources
• Secondary Paraeducators - Aja Dale, Human Resources

 

E-Cert and Logging Clock Hours:

 

OSPI Certification Office

Phone: (360) 725-6400

Email: [email protected]

 

Paraeducator Certificate Program Questions:

 

Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB)

Phone: (360) 725-6275

Email: [email protected] or pesb.k12.wa.us