New Partnership to Streamline Pathways into Washington's Paraeducator Workforce
In an innovative stride towards strengthening the education sector, ETS's Praxis program has joined forces with the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) to establish a comprehensive pathway designed to pave the way for aspiring paraeducators in the state. This significant partnership, announced on September 29, 2026, aims to dismantle barriers that prevent individuals from entering the paraeducator workforce, which is crucial for supporting Washington's P-12 students.
Dr. Ron Jacobson, the Interim Executive Director of PESB, highlighted the essential role that paraeducators play in the educational landscape of Washington. He stated that it is vital for paraeducators to possess the expertise and skills necessary to effectively contribute to the learning process of students. Consequently, providing them with access to high-quality training is of utmost importance. The collaboration with ETS through the integration of ParaPathways, a solution offered by the Praxis program, represents a significant step in addressing these critical training needs. Furthermore, ETS's provision of vouchers for assessment fees aims to eliminate financial hurdles that could impede access to necessary training.
The ParaPathways assessment model outlined by Praxis provides a structured approach to preparation, licensure, and skills development for paraeducators. Unlike traditional methods that treat certification and readiness as separate processes, this model seeks to unify them, ensuring that candidates are not only meeting state requirements but are also adequately equipped with practical competencies for classroom environments.
Under this partnership, the paraeducator workforce in Washington will gain access to an array of essential resources each year. This assistance is designed to prepare candidates thoroughly for their future roles:
1. Assessment Preparation: Candidates will receive interactive practice tests, diagnostic score reports, and eBooks aimed at identifying knowledge gaps early in the preparation process.
2. ParaPathways Assessment: This is specifically tailored to help paraeducators fulfill Washington's basic employment standards, with ETS offering vouchers to mitigate financial barriers.
3. ParaPathways Bridge: This alternative passing solution provides a more expedited path for candidates to enter the workforce.
4. Educator-Aligned Progression: A streamlined pathway that coordinates preparation, assessment, and professional entry, making the transition smoother for candidates while ensuring they acquire the foundational skills necessary for their professions.
With a strategic focus on enriching the paraeducator pipeline, this partnership is expected to help foster a diverse and locally rooted workforce for schools throughout Washington. By aligning ParaPathways' preparation resources with PESB's employment criteria—which requires paraeducators to hold at least a high school diploma and pass a state-approved assessment—districts will benefit from a consistent, statewide standard for identifying qualified candidates ready to take on paraeducator roles. This model not only assists in filling positions but also aids in creating a more robust and dedicated educational workforce.
Vince Dean, Associate Vice President of Praxis at ETS, expressed pride in supporting Washington's initiatives to strengthen paraeducator recruitment. He emphasized that ParaPathways fulfills an important role in aligning resources with the state's employment prerequisites and serves as a foundational model that other states can adopt to recruit, prepare, and retain paraeducators in their educational ecosystems.
The Praxis program, embodying ETS’s legacy of innovation spanning over 78 years, offers a comprehensive suite of solutions that support educators from initial entry into the profession to ongoing career development. Renowned for its licensure assessments that help aspiring teachers validate their readiness to teach, Praxis also encompasses ParaPathways, Praxis Bridge, and other resources that provide accessible support to educators, ultimately facilitating the recruitment of more qualified individuals into the classroom. For more details, you can visit praxis.ets.org.
Dr. Ron Jacobson, the Interim Executive Director of PESB, highlighted the essential role that paraeducators play in the educational landscape of Washington. He stated that it is vital for paraeducators to possess the expertise and skills necessary to effectively contribute to the learning process of students. Consequently, providing them with access to high-quality training is of utmost importance. The collaboration with ETS through the integration of ParaPathways, a solution offered by the Praxis program, represents a significant step in addressing these critical training needs. Furthermore, ETS's provision of vouchers for assessment fees aims to eliminate financial hurdles that could impede access to necessary training.
A Comprehensive Assessment Framework
The ParaPathways assessment model outlined by Praxis provides a structured approach to preparation, licensure, and skills development for paraeducators. Unlike traditional methods that treat certification and readiness as separate processes, this model seeks to unify them, ensuring that candidates are not only meeting state requirements but are also adequately equipped with practical competencies for classroom environments.
Under this partnership, the paraeducator workforce in Washington will gain access to an array of essential resources each year. This assistance is designed to prepare candidates thoroughly for their future roles:
1. Assessment Preparation: Candidates will receive interactive practice tests, diagnostic score reports, and eBooks aimed at identifying knowledge gaps early in the preparation process.
2. ParaPathways Assessment: This is specifically tailored to help paraeducators fulfill Washington's basic employment standards, with ETS offering vouchers to mitigate financial barriers.
3. ParaPathways Bridge: This alternative passing solution provides a more expedited path for candidates to enter the workforce.
4. Educator-Aligned Progression: A streamlined pathway that coordinates preparation, assessment, and professional entry, making the transition smoother for candidates while ensuring they acquire the foundational skills necessary for their professions.
Advancing Washington’s Talent Pipeline
With a strategic focus on enriching the paraeducator pipeline, this partnership is expected to help foster a diverse and locally rooted workforce for schools throughout Washington. By aligning ParaPathways' preparation resources with PESB's employment criteria—which requires paraeducators to hold at least a high school diploma and pass a state-approved assessment—districts will benefit from a consistent, statewide standard for identifying qualified candidates ready to take on paraeducator roles. This model not only assists in filling positions but also aids in creating a more robust and dedicated educational workforce.
Vince Dean, Associate Vice President of Praxis at ETS, expressed pride in supporting Washington's initiatives to strengthen paraeducator recruitment. He emphasized that ParaPathways fulfills an important role in aligning resources with the state's employment prerequisites and serves as a foundational model that other states can adopt to recruit, prepare, and retain paraeducators in their educational ecosystems.
About Praxis
The Praxis program, embodying ETS’s legacy of innovation spanning over 78 years, offers a comprehensive suite of solutions that support educators from initial entry into the profession to ongoing career development. Renowned for its licensure assessments that help aspiring teachers validate their readiness to teach, Praxis also encompasses ParaPathways, Praxis Bridge, and other resources that provide accessible support to educators, ultimately facilitating the recruitment of more qualified individuals into the classroom. For more details, you can visit praxis.ets.org.
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