Washington State Partners with ETS to Streamline Paraeducator Hiring

The partnership directly addresses the practical and financial bottlenecks that have long complicated the recruitment of school support staff. Under the new agreement, candidates gain access to a comprehensive suite of preparatory tools, including diagnostic score reports and interactive practice tests, designed to pinpoint knowledge gaps before the formal assessment. To further lower the barrier to entry, ETS is providing vouchers to offset the costs associated with the ParaPathways examination.

Dr. Ron Jacobson, Interim Executive Director of the state board, emphasized that the initiative aligns licensure with actual classroom readiness rather than treating them as disconnected hurdles. The program features the ParaPathways Bridge, an alternative path intended to expedite the transition from training to active employment. By aligning these resources with Washington’s existing employment mandates—which require candidates to hold a high school diploma and pass an approved assessment—the state is establishing a scalable, uniform standard for its growing educator pipeline.