Human Resources - Frequently Asked Questions
Certificated employee FAQ
- Is a teaching certificate required to teach in Seattle Public Schools?
- Will my certificate from another state transfer to Washington?
Does Washington have reciprocity with other states? - Does a teacher have to register his/her new certificate with Seattle Public Schools?
- What is the difference between a teaching certificate and a Career and Technical (CTE) or vocational certificate?
- What is the difference between endorsement and category?
- What is the difference between one-year, provisional and continuing contracts?
- How do you apply for regular teaching positions?
- How long are certificated vacancies advertised?
- What is No Child Left Behind?
Classified employee FAQ
- How do classified employees apply for advertised positions?
- How long are represented classified jobs advertised?
- How often do classified employees receive pay?
- Is a Washington State certificate required to be an instructional assistant with Seattle Public Schools?
- When can a newly hired classified employee expect to receive medical benefits?
Certificated employee FAQ
Is a teaching certificate required to teach in Seattle Public Schools?
Yes. A current Washington State Teaching Certificate with appropriate endorsements is required to teach in Seattle Public Schools. A current Educational Staff Associate Certificate (ESA) is required for school nurses, psychologists, counselors, social workers, audiologists and therapists.
Will my certificate from another state transfer to Washington?
Does Washington have reciprocity with other states?
Washington requires that all teachers new to the state complete an application packet for their certificates. Information about this process can be found at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction website: http://www.k12.wa.us/certification/TeacherMain.aspx or by calling (360) 725-6396.
Does a teacher have to register his/her new certificate with Seattle Public Schools?
Yes. Every teacher, including substitutes, must register his/her Washington certificate with Human Resources before beginning a teaching assignment. Additionally, every teacher is responsible for registering all subsequent certificates with the District. Please bring in your original copy to the JSCEE Human Resources Office. An HR staff member will stamp your original certificate and make copies. A copy will be placed into your personnel file after updating information on the Human Resources database.
What is the difference between a teaching certificate and a Career and Technical (CTE) or vocational certificate?
A teaching certificate requires fulfilling educational requirements, whereas some vocational education certificates can be obtained through industry experience.
What is the difference between endorsement and category?
Endorsements are designated subject areas in which a teacher is qualified to teach. These endorsements are determined and granted by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) when a teacher applied for certification.
Categories are subject areas identified by Seattle Public Schools within these endorsements. Categories provide a greater level of specificity within endorsements.
What is the difference between one-year, provisional and continuing contracts?
Non-continuing, one-year contracts are offered to first year teachers to balance with teachers on leave. A district-wide balance is maintained in order to guarantee positions are avilable for teachers when they return from leave. Mid-year, principals are required to evaluate one-year teachers and make recommendations for their conversion to provisional status.
Provisional status includes two years of satisfactory performance in Washington Public Schools. One-year contracts are converted to provisional and fulfill the first year of provisional employment for new teachers. After a second successful provisional contract year, teachers receive a continuing contract. One-year contracts are converted to second year provisional contracts if the teacher new to Seattle has had one-year of teaching experience in another Washington Public School. One-year teachers with additional Washington Public School experience are converted to a continuing contract.
Conversions are based upon recommendations from the principal and capacity to staff at the school.
How do you apply for regular teaching positions?
All available positions are listed in one place - just click the Job Opportunities link on the Careers home page. One application serves to apply for all positions including substitutes. When you apply to individual positions, you will be asked to answer supplemental questions. Please review each job announcement to determine if additional materials are required. Important updates and announcements about special circumstances or activities are posted on the Careers home page.
How long are certificated vacancies advertised?
Certificated vacancies must be advertised for at least one week. Positions may be left open until filled
What is No Child Left Behind?
The Federal Government provides standards to evaluate teachers areas of expertise and to designate the areas in which they are highly qualified to teach. Seattle Schools uses these standards to identify the highly qualified areas for every teacher. A teacher is automatically considered Highly Qualified when they prove that they have:
Passed the Praxis in the Content Area
Washington State Endorsement in Content Area
Academic Major in Content Area
National Board Certification in Content Area
45 Credits in Content Area
If not highly qualified by the above criteria, a teacher may qualify by using the HOUSSE (Highly Objective Uniform State Standard Evaluation) method for the core subject areas. Employment analysts complete the HOUSSE forms for employees as needed.
Classified employee FAQ
How do classified employees apply for advertised positions?
All available positions are listed in one place - just click the Job Opportunities link on the Careers home page. One application serves to apply for all positions including substitutes. When you apply to individual positions, you will be asked to answer supplemental questions. Please review each job announcement to determine if additional materials are required. Important updates and announcements about special circumstances or activities are posted on the Careers home page.
How long are represented classified jobs advertised?
Open positions must be advertised for at least 1 week. After the closing date, HR Department screens for minimum qualifications and referral criteria according to the collective bargaining agreement for SAEOP and Paraprofessional employees. A maximum of six candidates will be referred for each advertised position. Positions are often advertised for an extended period and marked “open until filled” if 6 applications are not received in the required 1 week.
How often do classified employees receive pay?
Classified employees are paid on the first working day each month, provided they began work by the 15 th of the previous month.
Is a Washington State certificate required to be an instructional assistant with Seattle Public Schools?
IAs do not need to be certificated. They are required to have completed 72 quarter hours of college course work or pass the Paraprofessional Praxis exam and have 1 year of paid related work experience.
When can a newly hired classified employee expect to receive medical benefits?
An employee whose start date is prior to the 15th of the month is eligible to receive benefits on the first day of the following month as long as the paperwork is turned in by the 20th of the month.