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Right to Ask for Qualifications

Families have a right to request and receive information about the qualifications of the teachers and paraprofessionals who provide instructions to students.In compliance with the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), you may request information about the professional qualifications of your student's teacher(s) or instructional paraprofessional(s) [ESSA SECTION 1112(e)(1)(A)].

You may request the following professional qualification information pertaining to your child's teacher(s):

  1. Whether the teacher has met Washington teacher certification requirements for the grade level and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction.

  2. Whether the teacher is teaching under an emergency or other provisional status through which Washington qualifications or certification criteria have been waived.
  3. The college major and any graduate certification or degree held by the teacher.
  4. Whether the student is provided services by paraprofessionals, and if so, their qualifications.
You may request the following professional qualification information pertaining to an instructional paraprofessional instructing your child:

Paraeducators must be at least 18 years of age and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more detailed information on what is considered equivalent, please read these Frequently Asked Questions on the Paraeducator Minimum Employment Requirements.

In addition, a paraeducator must meet ONE of the following:

  1. Have received a qualifying score on the Education Testing Service (ETS) paraeducator assessment.
  2. Hold an associate degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
  3. Have earned 72 quarter credits or 48 semester credits at the 100 level or higher at an accredited college or university.
  4. Have completed an apprenticeship as a paraeducator in a program registered with the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council. For more information, visit Washington's Professional Educator Standards Board's Minimum Employment Requirements.

NOTE: Paraprofessionals must work under the supervision of a certified teacher. In schools that operate a schoolwide program, all paraprofessionals must meet professional qualifications. In a Target Assistance Program, only paraprofessionals instructing Title I intervention, under the direct supervision of a certified teacher, must meet the above qualifications.

If you wish to request information concerning the qualifications of your child's teacher(s) and / or instructional paraprofessional(s), please contact:

Sharon Scellick
Director of Teaching & Learning and State & Federal Programs
(509)9 754-5881