Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos, Governor Jay Inslee, and WFIS Executive Director Suzie Hanson were at the signing of the HB 1377 legislation, which expands the pool of providers who can offer cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion (CCDEI) clock hours that are mandatory for renewing teacher and administrator state certificates.
WFIS, PESB, and OSPI worked to pass the 2024 amended bill to ensure private school teachers can receive the mandated clock-hour credits to renew their certificates. Here is an overview of the CCDEI bill updates and the timeline:
- After July 1, 2023, all administrators (10%) and teachers (15%) must have continuing education focused on equity-based school practices to renew their certificates.
- Providers of equity-based education must use the PESB equity standards and post the program’s learning objectives on their websites.
- The clock hour providers allowed to offer equity clock hour training are limited to OPSI, school districts, ESDs, colleges/universities, the Association of WA School Principals, the WEA, and “other organizations approved by the PESB.”
- By September 1, 2024, the PESB will have a process for temporarily or permanently revoking the ability to offer clock hours due to issues like a substantial number of complaints, lack of compliance, or course materials substantially misaligned with the CCDEI standards.
- PESB and OSPI must write a report for legislators on December 1, 2024, on implementing an auditing system for all providers and any other recommendations to improve the clock hour system.
- Beginning in 2025-2026, the PESB will have standards to approve “other organizations.” The equity clock hour provider application’s list of questions will be expanded to include the entity’s mission, vision, experience and expertise, subject matter, fee structure, transcript process, and other elements.
