Core Seminar Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Where does Core fit into the Professional Certificate sequence?

2. What if I already completed the Pre-Assessment or core requirements at a different university?

3. I understand that there is more than one way to complete Core requirements. What are my options?

4. How does Core meet MY professional growth interests?

5. Can I use credits I earned prior to Core as Core elective credits?

6. Who do I need to consult with as I select Core courses?

7. Can I complete Core requirements during the summer?

8. What resources are available to help me develop and organize my portfolio?

9. Who reviews and evaluates my portfolio and what criteria are used to score it?

10. What if my portfolio doesn’t receive an “at standard” score?

11. What follows once I complete Core requirements?

12. Where do I send my official transcripts or clock hour verification as documentation that I've completed Core Seminar elective credits?

Where does Core fit into the Professional Certificate sequence?

The Professional Certificate Program consists of 15 professional development credits distributed across three components: Pre-Assessment, Core, and Culminating Seminars. Candidates must complete Pre-Assessment requirements prior to enrolling in Core coursework. The Concept Map (word) (pdf) and Blue Print (word) (pdf) documents provide a visual display of the program sequence and expected outcomes.

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What if I already completed the Pre-Assessment or core requirements at a different university?

Candidates may enter Washington University’s Professional Certification program at any stage by completing an Application (word) (pdf) and Employer Support Form (pdf) but they must show evidence of completed work by sending a transcript and copies of their Professional Growth Plan (word) (pdf), Professional Growth Record (word) (pdf), and Student Learning Context Profile (word) (pdf) to the Director of University-School Partnerships.

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I understand that there is more than one way to complete Core requirements. What are my options?

The Concept Map (word) (pdf) and Blue Print (word) (pdf)  documents describe Core options and outcomes. Both options require an Applied Classroom Inquiry Project (word) (pdf) in one portfolio entry.

Option #1 candidates complete Core through a 3-credit seminar plus seven elective credits (or 70 clock hours) that are aligned with the goals written on the Professional Growth Plan (word) (pdf). The seminar is designed to assist candidates to develop and organize portfolio evidence. In Western’s program, candidates are required to have an approved portfolio before enrolling in the Culminating Seminar.

Option #2 candidates may apply nine M.Ed. credits toward Core’s ten credit requirement. Candidates must receive approval for M.Ed. credits as Core by sending course descriptions to Western’s Director of University-School Partnerships. The courses are approved if the course content aligns with Professional Growth Plan (word) (pdf) goals. One credit of Core is reserved for a linking class that focuses on portfolio development. The portfolio must be “at standard” before a candidate may enroll in the Culminating Seminar.

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 How does Core meet MY professional growth interests?

The intent of Core elective credits or M.Ed. program is to align courses and/or clock hour selections with goals on the Professional Growth Plan (word) (pdf). The Professional Growth Plan should be a personally relevant guide and it is acceptable to change goals when your teaching context or professional development needs have changed. Just update that document.
 

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Can I use credits I earned prior to Core as Core elective credits?

The Professional Certificate Program is a forward-looking professional development activity that begins once a candidate enrolls and takes them forward from there. Only credits approved and earned while enrolled in the Professional Certificate Program are applicable.

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Who do I need to consult with as I select Core courses?

Elective credits and M.Ed. courses should be selected based on your personal needs as identified on the Personal Capacity Worksheet (word) (pdf) and in consultation with your Professional Growth Team (word) (pdf). It’s a good idea to consult with the school district representative on your team regarding professional development targets that might be identified in your School Improvement or district level Strategic Plans. It is both appropriate and efficient to target those same goals in your PGP and elective credit selections as long as they are personally relevant to you.

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Can I complete Core requirements during the summer?

Yes. Core elective courses may be completed during the summer or any other time as long as they have been agreed upon by your Professional Growth Team (word) (pdf) and, in the case of M.Ed. coursework, by Western’s Director of University-School Partnerships.

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What resources are available to help me develop and organize my portfolio?

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has developed several relevant resources to help develop and organize portfolio entries. They include:

• Descriptors of Practice and Resources on page 2-16 of the on-line Professional Certificate Handbook http://www.k12.wa.us/certification/ProfEd/Handbook/2_EnrolledinProCert.doc#Resources

• Evidence Guidelines pages 242-248 http://www.k12.wa.us/certification/ProfEd/Handbook/2_EnrolledinProCert.doc#EvidenceGuidelines

• Evidence Guidelines page 2-17 through page 241 http://www.k12.wa.us/certification/ProfEd/Handbook/2_EnrolledinProCert.doc#EvidenceGuidelines

• Applied Classroom Inquiry Project  (word) (pdf) Components

• Portfolio Evidence Guidelines (word) (pdf)

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Who reviews and evaluates my portfolio and what criteria are used to score it?

Your portfolio will be reviewed twice. The first review is completed by Western Washington University Professional Certification Program instructors. When Western instructors believe your portfolio is ready, only Standard One evidence will be forwarded to an external evaluation panel. That panel will make the final determination about the status of your portfolio evidence.

The criteria used to evaluate your entries are exactly the same as the individual bullets listed in the “at standard” items in the Descriptors of Practice (word) (pdf) document.

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What if my portfolio doesn’t receive an “at standard” score?

If Western Washington reviewers determine that your entries are not yet at standard, your portfolio will be returned to you with accompanying feedback about components that need to be strengthened and you will be asked to resubmit it to Western reviewers.

If the panel of external reviewers judge one or more of the criteria as not yet at standard, you will be allowed to “bank” at standard criteria and asked to resubmit the components that need to be strengthened.

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What follows once I complete Core requirements?

You will need to verify that all Core requirements have been met by sending elective credit transcripts or clock hour workshop attendance verification to University-School Partnerships. When Core requirements have been satisfied and your portfolio has been reviewed and determined to be ready for external evaluation, you may register for Culminating Seminar, the final step in the program.

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Where do I send my official transcripts or clock hour verification as documentation that I've completed Core Seminar elective credits?

Susan Bailey, University-School Partnerships

Woodring College of Education - MS 9090

Western Washington University

516 High Street

Bellingham, WA   98225

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