As used in this chapter, the term "approved in-service education agency" shall mean an agency approved by the professional educator standards board to provide in-service education programs and to grant continuing education credit hours to all or a selective group of educators. Such agency must demonstrate the following characteristics:

1. (1) The agency is one of the following entities or a department or section within such entities:

   1. (a) A college or university referenced in WAC 181-85-025(1);
   2. (b) (i) An organization which for the purpose of this chapter shall mean any local, state, regional, or national organization which offers in-service education programs to teachers, administrators, educational staff associates, or paraeducators. These organizations must be nonprofit or not-for-profit organizations;
   3. (ii) Organizations shall provide documentation of their nonprofit or not-for-profit status as part of their annual assurances of compliance with program and recordkeeping standards under WAC 181-85-210;
   4. (iii) Organizations that are filed as a 501 (c)(4) with the Internal Revenue Service shall not be approved as continuing education providers.
   5. (c) A school district, an educational service district, the superintendent of public instruction, or any local, state, or federal agency;
   6. (d) An approved private school which for the purpose of this chapter shall mean the same as provided in WAC 180-90-112; or
   7. (e) An educator preparation program provider approved under chapter 181-78A or 181-77A WAC by the professional educator standards board.

2. (2) The in-service education agency has either a committee or board of directors that provide prior approval to proposed in-service education programs on the basis that the proposed programs are designed to meet the program standards set forth in WAC 181-85-200, and the content standards in WAC 181-85-202.

   The committee will be composed of individuals who may include teachers, educational staff associates, administrators, paraeducators, community members, or representatives from colleges and universities.

3. (3) Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, in-service education agencies providing continuing education under WAC 181-79A-244(3) shall submit the following as part of the application process:

   1. (a) The entity's mission and vision;
   2. (b) The entity's experience and expertise in providing professional development to educators generally, as well as specific experience and expertise in equity-based practices;
   3. (c) Possible subject matter topics of continuing education to be provided by the entity;
   4. (d) Information on clock hour pricing;
   5. (e) Transcript processes.
4. (4) School districts, tribal compact schools, and the superintendent of public instruction shall be considered to be approved in-service education agencies.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 28A.410 RCW. WSR 25-20-033, s 181-85-045, filed 9/23/25, effective 10/24/25; WSR 24-20-051, s 181-85-045, filed 9/25/24, effective 10/26/24; WSR 20-16-031, § 181-85-045, filed 7/25/20, effective 8/25/20. Statutory Authority: Chapters 28A.410 and 28A.413 RCW. WSR 19-15-143, § 181-85-045, filed 7/24/19, effective 8/24/19. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.410.210. WSR 06-14-010, § 181-85-045, filed 6/22/06, effective 7/23/06. WSR 06-02-051, recodified as § 181-85-045, filed 12/29/05, effective 1/1/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.410.010. WSR 92-04-044, § 180-85-045, filed 1/31/92, effective 3/2/92. Statutory Authority: 1990 c 33. WSR 91-04-016, § 180-85-045, filed 1/28/91, effective 2/28/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.70.005. WSR 90-12-076, § 180-85-045, filed 6/1/90, effective 7/2/90; WSR 88-01-086 (Order 16-87), § 180-85-045, filed 12/21/87; WSR 87-09-013 (Order 5-87), § 180-85-045, filed 4/3/87; WSR 86-13-018 (Order 8-86), § 180-85-045, filed 6/10/86.]