The education world is filled with its own set of vocabulary. Your coworkers will start throwing these words around immediately and it is VERY confusing! Use this page to help decipher the long list of acronyms used daily in the field of education. 

Washington State Professional Organizations

• OSPI- The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction is the governing body for public education in the state of Washington.  https://www.k12.wa.us/

• PESB- Professional Educator Standards Board is the governor appointed board that is responsible for policy and oversight of Washington's educator preparation, certification, assignment, and development (RCW).  https://www.pesb.wa.gov/

Career & Technical Education

• CTE- Career and Technical Education classes that are based upon careers that provide students with hands-on learning. https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/career-technical-education-cte

• CIP Code- Classification of Instructional Programs Code, a federally accepted course code that is aligned to a V-Code.  https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/career-technical-education-cte/cte-resources/cip-codes

• Course Equivalency- are courses that provide students the opportunity to meet standard in core subject areas through CTE courses.  https://www.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/public/communications/2020documents/12-20-Career-and-Technical-Education-Course-Equivalencies.pdf  

Course equivalency frameworks can be found here: https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/career-technical-education-cte/cte-resources-essentials/statewide-course-equivalencies

• Program of Study- course sequences that prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in their chosen career.  https://ospi.k12.wa.us/student-success/career-technical-education-cte/cte-program-study-and-career-clusters

• 21st Century Skills- Learning and innovation skills increasingly are being recognized as those that separate students who are prepared for a more and more complex life and work environments in the 21st century, and those who are not. A focus on creativity, critical thinking, communication and collaboration is essential to prepare students for the future. Find the full list here.

• V-Code- Dictates the course the teacher is certified to teach. It is based on their education and industry experience.  https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/career-technical-education-cte/cte-resources/cip-codes

General Education

• Clock Hours- Units of credit that are earned during approved Professional Development events. Clock hours go towards certificate renewal. You will want to accumulate as many as you can as they will help increase your rate of pay.  https://www.k12.wa.us/educator-support/continuing-education-clock-hours

• ELL or MLL- English Language Learner or Multilingual Learner are students whose first language is something other than English.  https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/access-opportunity-education/migrant-and-multilingual-education/multilingual-education-program

• Pedagogy- Pedagogy, most commonly understood as the approach to teaching, is the theory and practice of learning, and how this process influences, and is influenced by, the social, political and psychological development of learners.

• PGP- Professional Growth Plan is a goal setting and evaluation process for teachers, as well as others in the educational field, that aligns with certification standards, creates a plan, collects evidence, and documents growth.   https://www.pesb.wa.gov/current-educators/certificate-renewal/pgp/  Professional Growth Plans (PGPs) 

• PLC- Professional Learning Community is method to foster collaborative learning among colleagues within a particular work environment.  https://www.edutopia.org/article/creating-effective-professional-learning-communities

• SEL- Social Emotional Learning is the process of developing self awareness, self control, and interpersonal skills that are vital for school, work, and life success.  https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/resources-subject-area/social-emotional-learning-sel

• TPEP- Teacher and Principal Evaluation Growth Program is the program administrators use to evaluate teachers. In Washington, there are three models: Danielson, Marzano, and CEL 5D+.  https://www.k12.wa.us/educator-support/teacherprincipal-evaluation-program

Special Education

• Accommodation- A change that helps a student overcome or work around their disability such as offering an audio textbook for a student with dyslexia. Each student's accommodations will be outlined in their IEP or 504 plan.  

• 504- The 504 Plan is a plan developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives accommodations that will ensure their academic success and access to the learning environment. https://www.k12.wa.us/policy-funding/equity-and-civil-rights/information-families-civil-rights-washington-schools/section-504-students-disabilities

• IEP- Individualized Education Program is the plan that ensures that a child that has a disability as defined under law receives specialized instruction and services. https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/special-education/family-engagement-and-guidance/individualized-education-program-iep

• Modification- Making an assignment easier so the student is not doing the same level of work as the rest of the class such as reducing the number of questions on an assessment or offering homework that is different. 

• Differentiation- Creating instruction that meets each individual student's needs. An example would be providing multiple texts and learning materials.

• SPED- Special Education is unique instruction that is specifically designed for students that are eligible to receive special education services.  https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/special-education