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I received this letter from WA-ACTE on 4/28/25:

Washington ACTE Members,

I am writing to all of you to let you know what has been happening on your behalf concerning the recent decision by the Professional Educators Standards Board (PESB) to rescind the ESD101 Online Professional Learning Academy (OPLA) Plan 2 CTE Teacher Certification program.

We strongly believe that this decision will have far-reaching negative consequences for school districts, students, and the CTE workforce across our state. In the attached letter, we outline the significant challenges this decision will create and urge PESB to reconsider and explore alternative solutions that recognize the unique value of Plan 2 programs. See attached letter to the PESB.

We believe that overtime closing the OPLA program will ultimately result in closing CTE programs across our state due to the lack of instructors. 

Besides being informed, you can help by leveraging your contacts you have such as advisory boards, administrators, and others, for their help to encourage the PESB to reconsider or at least expedite their reapplication process towards a fair and balanced resolution that returns OPLA and aides in the retention and expansion of CTE teacher preparation programs in Washington.

Thank you for your time and …to be continued!

Tim Knue

Executive Director

Washington Association for Career and Technical Education (WA-ACTE)

   Cell: 360-202-5297 - Office: 360-786-9286 

tim@wa-acte.org  |  www.wa-acte.org

The Plan II CTE Program provided by ESD101 is the most efficient way for teachers who have a traditional teaching certification and a CS endorsement to get a CTE certificate that almost all school districts require to teach CS.   It is also the most efficient way for computer industry professionals to get their teaching certification.   Taking away the ESD101 program makes the already tall barrier to find recruit CS teachers even taller. 

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Lawrence Tanimoto
Treasurer/Advocacy Lead, CSTA Washington
Bellevue, WA
K-12 Teacher CTE (retired)
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Please find attached a public comment that I made to PESB regarding this issue and the negative effect that it will have on computer science teachers in Washington.   It urges PESB to reconsider this decision for teachers who already have non-CTE teaching credentials.    This public comment is scheduled to be addressed at the PESB board meeting on May 22-23 in Pasco. 

------------------------------
Lawrence Tanimoto
Treasurer/Advocacy Lead, CSTA Washington
Bellevue, WA
K-12 Teacher CTE (retired)
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-01-2025 12:53
From: Lawrence Tanimoto
Subject: Update on PESB Action Regarding ESD 101's CTE Plan II Program

I received this letter from WA-ACTE on 4/28/25:

Washington ACTE Members,

I am writing to all of you to let you know what has been happening on your behalf concerning the recent decision by the Professional Educators Standards Board (PESB) to rescind the ESD101 Online Professional Learning Academy (OPLA) Plan 2 CTE Teacher Certification program.

We strongly believe that this decision will have far-reaching negative consequences for school districts, students, and the CTE workforce across our state. In the attached letter, we outline the significant challenges this decision will create and urge PESB to reconsider and explore alternative solutions that recognize the unique value of Plan 2 programs. See attached letter to the PESB.

We believe that overtime closing the OPLA program will ultimately result in closing CTE programs across our state due to the lack of instructors. 

Besides being informed, you can help by leveraging your contacts you have such as advisory boards, administrators, and others, for their help to encourage the PESB to reconsider or at least expedite their reapplication process towards a fair and balanced resolution that returns OPLA and aides in the retention and expansion of CTE teacher preparation programs in Washington.

Thank you for your time and …to be continued!

Tim Knue

Executive Director

Washington Association for Career and Technical Education (WA-ACTE)

   Cell: 360-202-5297 - Office: 360-786-9286 

tim@wa-acte.org  |  www.wa-acte.org

The Plan II CTE Program provided by ESD101 is the most efficient way for teachers who have a traditional teaching certification and a CS endorsement to get a CTE certificate that almost all school districts require to teach CS.   It is also the most efficient way for computer industry professionals to get their teaching certification.   Taking away the ESD101 program makes the already tall barrier to find recruit CS teachers even taller. 

------------------------------
Lawrence Tanimoto
Treasurer/Advocacy Lead, CSTA Washington
Bellevue, WA
K-12 Teacher CTE (retired)
------------------------------