Professional Development

To access Northshore School District's professional development software "Performance Matters", follow these log-in steps:

• Type pd.nsd.org into any web browser and hit enter.
• Enter your district username (e.g. jsmith@nsd.org) and click Next.
• Enter your district password and click "Sign in".

• Only “professional development” activities can be awarded clock hours. 
  • Regulations prohibit awarding clock hours for:
    • Routine staff meetings
    • Discussion about building/classroom operations or administrative policies and procedures.
    • Social hours or meal times (unless this time is spent continuing with the professional development activity; for example listening to a scheduled presenter).
• Effective September 1, 2019, a minimum of one hour of instructional time is required in order to be clock hour eligible.  Any course approved prior to September 1, 2019 must meet a minimum of three hours of instruction time.
• Each section (in-service) requires an agenda that includes: 
  • A statement of the intended outcomes for the course including specific topics covered/learned/presented;
  • The date and time of each session; specifically the start and end times with breaks and meal times included.

Once all meeting dates for the section (in-service) have concluded, the staff development team will be notified and can work towards reconciling the section (in-service). 

If you have a specific section (in-service) you would like reconciled in order to move up a step on the salary schedule or you would like to inquire about a discrepancy with a clock hour award, please email the Staff Development team (staffdev@nsd.org).  In the subject line, please include the section number and the purpose for the request - for example #12345 missing clock hours or #12345 salary placement.

The District:

• Offers at least a half-day professional development opportunity each year on skills necessary for effective substitute service 
• Makes professional development webinars available throughout the school year regarding use of District technology tools
• Provides access to open seats at professional development opportunities scheduled outside the school day or school year 
• Includes substitutes with written replacement employee contracts in professional development opportunities on the same basis as the teacher they are replacing

For assistance with registering for pd classes and checking on the availability of open seats, contact staffdev@nsd.org. 

The FCS is required of paraeducators in Washington State and consists of 28 hours of coursework.  Paraeducators are expected to complete 14 hours of this training each year.  The purpose of the FCS is to provide participants with new or renewed knowledge and skills that will positively impact their work with students.

Online Classes

The Northshore FCS plan is outlined below.  All courses, with the exception of FCS 01 and FCS 06 are available asynchronously for you to complete at your discretion.  Directions to complete each course:

FCS units are offered as course directly from Performance Matters.  Participants will need to log in with your NSD credentials.

• Participants will need to follow each unit's course description and attached instruction document.
• Participants will access required material through Instructor Plus.
• FCS units may require one or more specific resource modules be completed for each unit. 
• Click on each resource and either complete the steps outlined or view the video.
• After completing each module or resources click on the viewed button in Performance Matters.

After completion and to receive credit for the FCS unit participants must complete the Performance Matters survey.

1. Click on the Courses Tab at the top

2. Find the “My Survey’s” box

3. Click on Start Survey for each of your completed courses  

Completion

Once you complete the 12 required FCS units, you will receive an official completion form from the district.  These forms are emailed to participants on a quarterly basis.  Once this form is received participants will then need to submit the form to the state’s eCertification program to verify your completion.  https://eds.ospi.k12.wa.us/ 

Once a para has completed the FCS, paraeductors can apply for the General Paraeducator Certificate.  This certificate is earned when a para has completed 70 additional clock hours (outside of the FCS) and applies through OSPI’s eCertification program. While any clock hours can count towards this program, we encourage you to consider taking the following asynchronous courses:

EL Subject Matter Certificate Course 

SpEd Subject Matter Certificate Course

These courses each count for 20 clock hours, and individuals can apply for the specific subject matter certificate in addition to counting those clock hours towards your General Paraeducator Certificate.  If you opt to complete these courses, participants will report their own completion directly to OSPI using this form.  

• Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB)

Paraeducator Certificate Program 

• OSPI 

Paraeducator e-Certification User Guide 

• Fundamental Course of Study (FCS)

Overview Google Slide Presentation

Advanced Paraeducator Certificate 

To complete the advanced certificate, you must first earn the general certificate. Only once the general certificate is earned, may you begin training to meet the advanced certificate.  An additional 75 clock hours is required to apply for the Advanced Certificate

Sharing Certificates with NSD

Login to your Records account.  Click on available forms.  Select the appropriate certificate and upload your document.  You may be eligible for a PSP Stipend (if you do not already qualify based upon an advanced degree) for completing and submitting your Advanced Paraeducator Certificate.