Sole_Source_Notification_CAEL_20270048.pdf

It is the intent of Washington State to promote open competition and transparency for all contracts for goods and services. In accordance with Department of Enterprise Service (DES) policy #DES-

140-00, all intended sole source contracts must be made available for public inspection for a period of not less than fifteen (15) working days before the start date of the contract. This Sole Source

Notification satisfies the requirement.

The Professional Educator Standards Board resides within the Office of Superintendent of Public

Instruction for administrative purposes only. While OSPI is not a party to this proposed Contract, OSPI is responsible for facilitating the Sole Source Notification process, executing this agreement, and making payment to the Contractor on behalf of PESB.

This Sole Source Notification is available at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

(OSPI) website and at the Department of Enterprise Services, Washington Electronic Business

Solution (WEBS) Procurement website under the following commodity codes: 924-05-Advisory

Services, Educational; 924-18-Educational Services, Alternative; 924-19-Educational Research

Services; 924-64-Partnering Workshop Facilitation Services

The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) intends to award a $170,735 sole source contract to Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), Inc. for the period of September

2026, through July 31, 2027.

The purpose of this contract is to support PESB, in partnership with Washington Student

Achievement Council (WSAC), in developing consistent, accessible, and rigorous Academic

Credit for Prior Learning (ACPL) pathways that recognize verified paraeducator training and work-based learning toward postsecondary credentials and teacher preparation. The Contractor will conduct institutional reviews at eight pilot sites, including policy and process analysis, stakeholder interviews, individual site profiles, and a cross-site synthesis. The Contractor will provide technical assistance to develop competency crosswalks, shared evidence and portfolio tools, unified ACPL and transfer-credit guidance, and joint articulation agreements across associate, bachelor’s, and graduate/teacher-preparation pathways. The Contract also includes project convenings, integrated project management, recommendations for future phases, and access to ACPL research, professional development, communities of practice, and national peer connections.

Sole Source Notification

Academic Credit for Prior Learning (ACPL) Pilot for Paraeducator Pathways https://www.k12.wa.us/about-ospi/contracting-ospi/competitive-procurements https://www.k12.wa.us/about-ospi/contracting-ospi/competitive-procurements https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/webs/ https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/webs/

PESB Sole Source Contract 20270048 Page 2 of 11

Consultants contemplating the above requirements shall submit capability statements detailing their ability to meet the state’s requirements no later than 5:00 pm on September 17, 2026.

Capability statements must address the following state requirements:

• Demonstrated understanding of paraeducator roles and experience in Paraeducator-specific ACPL pathway development

• Experience with cross-institutional work across associate, bachelor’s, and graduate or teacher-preparation pathways

• Coordination of policy, competency crosswalks, documentation, and articulation work among multiple institutions and credential levels

• Capacity to manage the multi-site project and complete the required deliverables within given timeframe

• Ability to provide pilot sites with established ongoing standards-based ACPL capacity building and peer learning network.

In the absence of other qualified sources, and pending approval by the Department of Enterprise

Services, it is PESB’s intent to make a sole source award of the contract mentioned above to

Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), Inc.

Although this Sole Source Notification is not an invitation to bid, if you feel your firm is able to provide the goods or services listed above, you may submit a capability statement to:

Kyla L. Moore

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Email: contracts@k12.wa.us

In accordance with DES Sole Source policy process #PRO-DES-140-00A, the following documents are attached:

• Attachment 1 – A copy of the Sole Source Contract Filing Justification

• Attachment 2 – A copy of the proposed draft sole source contract in significantly final form

Attachment 1 – Sole Source Contract Filing Justification

Specific Problem or Need

• What is the business need or problem that requires this contract?

Washington has a persistent educator shortage across roles, content areas, and geographic regions, and the teacher workforce remains less racially and geographically representative than the students it serves. PESB’s educator-workforce strategy includes strengthening equitable “grow your own” pathways for people already living and working in Washington communities.

Paraeducators are a particularly important pathway population. Washington’s

Paraeducator Certificate Program establishes statewide standards-based training and a career growth ladder for paraeducators who wish to advance in the profession or pursue mailto:contracts@k12.wa.us

PESB Sole Source Contract 20270048 Page 3 of 11 teaching. Paraeducators also acquire substantial job-embedded learning through direct service to students, collaboration with certificated educators, and experience in specialized instructional settings. However, participating colleges and educator-preparation programs do not yet have a consistent cross-institutional method for evaluating this learning, documenting evidence, mapping it to credit-bearing courses, or ensuring that awarded credit is stackable and transferable.

Without a coordinated ACPL framework, paraeducators may be required to repeat learning they have already demonstrated, pay tuition for duplicative coursework, and navigate inconsistent institutional policies. These barriers increase the time and cost of degree completion and can discourage experienced paraeducators from entering the teacher pathway.

The contract addresses this problem by establishing a common evidence base across eight pilot sites, identifying policy and process gaps, and producing shared crosswalks, documentation tools, and articulation agreements. The work is designed to preserve academic rigor by awarding credit only for documented, college-level learning while creating a more efficient and equitable route from paraeducator training and experience to credentials and teacher certification.

RCW: 28B.77.230(1)(a)-(g) establishes statewide ACPL goals, including increasing credit that applies to credentials, ensuring high-quality course-level competencies, developing transparent policies, improving assessment practices, building faculty and staff expertise, developing articulation agreements, and tracking outcomes. The contract directly advances these goals through institutional policy and process reviews, capacity building, shared tools, competency crosswalks, and joint articulation agreements.

WAC: Chapter 179-21 Authorizes the Paraeducator Board to make policy decisions that increase opportunities for paraeducator advancement through advanced education. The contract meets the directive of the Paraeducator Board’s scope and authority.

Sole Source Criteria

• Describe the unique features, qualifications, abilities or expertise of the contractor proposed for this sole source contract.

CAEL is uniquely positioned to perform this integrated scope of work for the following reasons (NOTE: Washington uses Academic Credit for Prior Learning (ACPL) and nationally, credit for prior learning (CPL) is more commonly used):

o CAEL is a recognized national leader in Academic Credit for Prior Learning. CAEL is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1974 whose core work is aligning education and employment for adult learners. CAEL has also worked on paraeducator ACPL initiatives in other states, giving it direct experience applying

PESB Sole Source Contract 20270048 Page 4 of 11 prior-learning practices to paraeducator training, work experience, and college pathways. Its publicly described expertise includes credit for prior learning/prior learning assessment (CPL/PLA), policy creation and refinement, process mapping, crosswalking employer training to college credit, career-pathway mapping, and developing sustainable institutional policies and partnerships.

o CAEL created nationally recognized standards for assessing prior learning. CAEL developed and maintains the Ten Standards for Assessing Learning. These standards include the principles that credit is awarded for demonstrated learning rather than experience alone and that credit decisions are made by appropriate subject-matter and credentialing experts. Washington’s ACPL guidance has long aligned with and cited CAEL standards and research, making CAEL’s framework directly relevant to the State’s quality-assurance requirements.

o CAEL’s service model matches the full scope of the project. Its work includes multi-institution CPL readiness and policy reviews, stakeholder engagement, competency crosswalks, shared documentation, articulation facilitation, adult-learner equity analysis, and integrated project management. This combination is broader than a training evaluation, registrar practice guide, or general higher-education consulting engagement.

o CAEL provides an established national membership network in addition to consulting services. Participating institutions receive access to CPL research, toolkits, webinars, microcourses, communities of practice, and a national peer network during implementation. This allows institutions to learn from ACPL professionals across the country, access current practices and resources, and continue building staff capacity throughout the pilot. The membership supports long-term institutional capacity rather than ending with a one-time report.

o CAEL’s work supports direct alignment between the PESB and WSAC initiatives.

PESB’s paraeducator work is intended to align with WSAC’s related ACPL initiative. Using the same Contractor and standards-based methodology avoids parallel assessment frameworks, incompatible documentation, duplicative stakeholder engagement, and a separate state-funded process to reconcile different approaches. The value comes from the continuity and integration of the work, not from past performance alone.

o CAEL brings current national research and implementation knowledge. CAEL and

WICHE have produced national research on CPL outcomes and equity, giving

CAEL access to current evidence and implementation examples relevant to adult learners, lower-income students, Black learners, and community-college populations. All populations that paraeducators represent.

Sources: CAEL, Ten Standards for Assessing Learning; CAEL, About/Why We Do It; CAEL CPL service descriptions; WSAC Academic Credit for Prior Learning Handbook; WICHE recognition-of-learning resources; CAEL-WICHE CPL research.

PESB Sole Source Contract 20270048 Page 5 of 11

• What kind of market research did the agency conduct to conclude that alternative sources were inappropriate or unavailable? Provide a narrative description of the agency’s due diligence in determining the basis for the sole source contract, including methods used by the agency to conduct a review of available sources such as researching trade publications, industry newsletters and the internet; contacting similar service providers; and reviewing statewide pricing trends and/or agreements.

PESB compared the required work with available staff expertise, assignments, and capacity. PESB staff possess subject-matter expertise in Washington educator standards, paraeducator certification, educator-preparation program approval, workforce policy, and implementation. Those competencies are essential to the project, but they are not a substitute for specialized, national ACPL institutional consulting.

The scope requires expertise in postsecondary ACPL and transfer-credit policy; portfolio and evidence-based assessment; registrar, advising, financial-aid, enrollment, and data-system workflows; crosswalking verified workforce learning to credit-bearing courses;

and facilitating agreements among autonomous two-year, four-year, public, private, and graduate teacher-preparation programs. It also requires an objective cross-site review and national benchmarking.

The eight-site proposal estimates 120 hours for articulation work alone, excluding

SWOT/needs assessments, policy review, stakeholder interviews, shared templates, convenings, project management, and final reporting. Reassigning this work to agency staff would displace core regulatory and program responsibilities and still would not supply the required specialized ACPL methodology, national standards, or institutional network.

PESB staff will remain responsible for state-policy decisions, Washington educator-content expertise, stakeholder access, timely review, and contract oversight; the

Contractor will perform the specialized external assessment, facilitation, and technical-assistance functions.

PESB examined other public resources and partnered with the Washington Student

Achievement Council (WSAC) because they have the statutory statewide ACPL coordination role under RCW 28B.77.230. WSAC is a necessary policy and implementation partner, but it is not a substitute for the contracted services. WSAC must retain its convening, oversight, and statewide coordination role and does not have dedicated capacity to independently conduct eight institutional reviews, facilitate all interviews, create the cross-site analysis, develop work-based competencies for paraeducator-specific crosswalks and templates, and manage joint cross-institutional articulation negotiations.

The pilot institutions control their own academic policies and credit-award decisions. No single institution can objectively assess all participating sites or independently establish

PESB Sole Source Contract 20270048 Page 6 of 11 a joint agreement binding the other institutions. Sector organizations such as the State

Board for Community and Technical Colleges and the Council of Presidents provide system coordination but do not replace the institution-level consulting, facilitation, and national ACPL capacity-building package required here.

Educational Service Districts support K-12 districts and paraeducator professional development, but they do not govern postsecondary ACPL, transfer-credit, degree-audit, registrar, or educator-preparation articulation decisions. Using an ESD would therefore not meet the core business need.

The selected model preserves public accountability: PESB and WSAC lead policy and decisions; institutions retain academic authority; and the Contractor supplies specialized, and neutral technical assistance using a common methodology across all sites.

• As part of the market research, include a list of statewide contracts review and/or businesses contacted, date of contact, method of contact (telephone, mail, e-mail, other), and documentation demonstrating an explanation of why those businesses could not or would not, under any circumstances, perform the contract; or an explanation of why the agency has determined that no businesses other than the prospective contractor can perform the contract.

PESB searched DES Statewide Contracts using the search term “Educational consulting,” which produced three results, of which only Business Consulting Services (contract

#01620) was explored. Of the 35 nonduplicated results, one website could not be validated, 30 did not contain “Academic Credit for Prior Learning” or combination thereof. The four that did include the term did not offer that type of work in their consulting services, it was only in reference materials.

PESB searched the OMWBE Dataportal using NAICS Code 61170 – Educational and

Academic Consulting, as the search term. PESB searched all 18 vendor websites, and none contained mention of ACPL or CPL work.

PESB searched WEBS, including terms “Academic Credit for Prior Learning” and “Credit for Prior learning,” which yielded no results.

PESB consulted a WEB Search that identified three national leaders, beside CAEL in

ACPL/CPL work:

1. American Council on Education o Emailed through their site requesting follow up. No response was received.

2. Center for Innovation in Education o Emailed through their site requesting follow up.

o Met with team via Zoom for an informational interview.

o Determined hey did not have paraeducator-specific ACPL experience nor an established ACPL network of peers for pilot sites.

PESB Sole Source Contract 20270048 Page 7 of 11

3. Student Ready Strategies o Emailed through their site requesting follow up.

o Sent a follow up email with contract requirements o They replied and PESB determined from their response they did not meet the criteria.

• Per the Supplier Diversity Policy, DES-090-06: was this purchase included in the agency’s forecasted needs report?

No.

• Describe what targeted industry outreach was completed to locate small and/or veteran-owned businesses to meet the agency’s need.

There was no direct targeted outreach done. PESB conducted a search of OMWBE database on June 30, 2026, and found no vendors who indicated they did work in

Academic Credit for Prior Learning (ACPL) or Credit for Prior Learning (CPL). A follow up search in WEBS was conducted on July 30, 2026, and no vendors were found specific to the work outlined in this contract.

• What considerations were given to unbundling the goods and/or services in this contract, which would provide opportunities for Washington small, diverse, and/or veteran-owned businesses. Provide a summary of your agency’s unbundling analysis for this contract.

Although the procurement is complex, the services are a single, integrated body of work.

CAEL will use one consistent methodology to assess participating institutions, synthesize findings across sites, and use those findings to support shared Academic Credit for Prior

Learning policies and joint articulation agreements. The institutional reviews are not independent deliverables; each directly informs the cross-site analysis and final agreements.

Unbundling the work among multiple contractors would create a risk of inconsistent methods, conflicting recommendations, duplicated stakeholder engagement, and delays while PESB and WSAC reconcile separate work products. Keeping the work under one contract provides consistent analysis, coordinated decision-making, and a single point of accountability for the final statewide pilot outcomes.

• Provide a detailed and compelling description that includes quantification of the costs and risks mitigated by contracting with this contractor (i.e. learning curve, follow-up nature).

Contracting with CAEL avoids the cost and risk of dividing an integrated, eight-institution project among multiple contractors. CAEL’s institutional services are priced at $132,000, or $16,500 per institution, and integrated project management is $26,400 over 11 months, or $2,400 per month. Introducing another contractor would require separate onboarding, duplicate data requests and stakeholder meetings, additional contract administration, and reconciliation of different methods and recommendations. Even a

25%–50% increase in coordination effort would create an estimated $6,600–$13,200 in

PESB Sole Source Contract 20270048 Page 8 of 11 additional project-management costs, exclusive of the second contractor’s professional fees.

CAEL’s existing alignment with WSAC’s related ACPL initiative also reduces learning curve, delay, and rework costs. A replacement contractor would need to learn the project’s institutional structure, paraeducator context, ACPL standards, pathway levels, and existing WSAC methodology before substantive work could begin. At the established project-management rate, a three- to six-month delay would create at least

$7,200–$14,400 in additional costs. Duplicated orientation, interviews, reviews, and reconciliation could reasonably consume 200–300 hours of PESB, WSAC, and institutional staff time; at an estimated fully loaded rate of $60 per hour, that represents another $12,000–$18,000. If inconsistent findings required rework equal to only 10% of the institutional services amount, the exposure would be approximately $13,200; at 20%, it would rise to $26,400.

The bundled membership structure provides additional identifiable savings. Because two pilot institutions already have CAEL memberships, PESB avoids purchasing two unnecessary memberships, saving approximately $4,800 over two years. The negotiated

15% multi-institution discount on the six new memberships provides an additional estimated $2,160 in savings over two years, for approximately $6,960 in direct membership cost avoidance, while also providing research, tools, microcourses, webinars, communities of practice, and discounted professional development. In total, integrated delivery mitigates an estimated $38,760–$65,760 in reasonably foreseeable cost exposure, while reducing the risk of fragmented analysis, incompatible standards, delayed articulation agreements, and deliverables that require additional public funds to reconcile or redo.

• Is the agency proposing this sole source contract because of special circumstances such as confidential investigations, copyright restrictions, etc.? If so, please describe.

• Is the agency proposing this sole source contract because of unavoidable, critical time delays or issues that prevented the agency from completing this acquisition using a competitive process? If so, please describe. For example, if time constraints are applicable, identify when the agency was on notice of the need for the goods and/or service, the entity that imposed the constraints, explain the authority of that entity to impose them, and provide the timelines within which work must be accomplished.

• What are the consequences of not having this sole source filing approved? Describe in detail the impact to the agency and to services it provides if this sole source filing is not approved.

PESB Sole Source Contract 20270048 Page 9 of 11

If the sole source filing is not approved, PESB and WSAC would need to redesign the procurement, reduce the scope, or conduct a competitive solicitation. That process would likely prevent the planned September 2026 launch and jeopardize completion by

July 2027, disrupting scheduled institutional reviews, interviews, policy analysis, cross-site synthesis, and articulation work across the eight pilot institutions. It could also jeopardize anticipated private funding tied to an October 2026 start. A delayed or separate procurement would further fragment this work from WSAC’s related ACPL initiative, requiring PESB and WSAC to reconcile different standards, tools, evidence requirements, and data structures before the results could support broader implementation.

The most immediate consequences would fall on paraeducators. Without shared competency crosswalks, evidence templates, consistent policies, and articulation agreements, paraeducators would continue to receive different credit determinations depending on the institution they attend. Many could be required to repeat learning already gained through state-required training, credentials, and substantial classroom experience. This creates avoidable tuition, fees, books, transportation, childcare, and other attendance costs, while extending the time needed to complete a degree and obtain teacher certification. Each additional academic term also delays the paraeducator’s opportunity to move into a certificated teaching position or other advanced educational position and earn the higher compensation associated with that role. The current justification identifies these inconsistent policies, duplicated coursework, added costs, and longer completion timelines as existing barriers the ACPL pilot is intended to address.

The delay would also directly affect Washington students and school districts.

Washington continues to face persistent teacher shortages, particularly in special education, bilingual education, STEM, and rural communities. At the same time, approximately 45%–50% of Washington’s K–12 students are students of color, while only about 13%–14% of teachers are people of color. Paraeducators are among the most diverse segments of the educator workforce and already possess school-based experience, community relationships, and demonstrated commitment to students.

Delaying their progression into teaching prolongs vacancies and reliance on emergency substitutes or out-of-endorsement assignments and postpones an important opportunity to build a teacher workforce that better reflects Washington’s students.

Students—especially students of color—would continue to experience the academic and relational consequences of both the teacher shortage and the persistent educator-representation gap.

PESB Sole Source Contract 20270048 Page 10 of 11

Reasonableness of Cost

• Since competition was not used as the means for procurement, how did the agency conclude that the costs, fees, or rates negotiated are fair and reasonable? Please make a comparison with comparable contracts, use the results of a market survey, or employ some other appropriate means calculated to make such a determination.

PESB determined that the negotiated cost is fair and reasonable through comparison with Washington State consulting rates, CAEL’s earlier proposal, and CAEL’s published institutional membership pricing.

o Washington State consulting-rate comparison. PESB reviewed the maximum hourly rates available through DES Statewide Contract 01620, Business

Consulting Services, and calculated an average maximum hourly rate of $283.54.

Excluding membership, CAEL’s professional-service fees total $158,400: $132,000 for institutional services and $26,400 for project management. At the statewide-contract benchmark, this amount is equivalent to approximately 559 consulting hours. The $132,000 institutional-services component equates to approximately

466 hours, or 58 hours per pilot institution. This is reasonable for conducting eight institutional assessments; stakeholder interviews and focus groups; ACPL and transfer-credit policy reviews; individual site profiles; a cross-site synthesis;

competency crosswalks; shared documentation tools; unified policy development; joint articulation agreements; two in-person convenings; and final recommendations.

o Reasonable project-management cost. The $26,400 project-management fee equals $2,400 per month over the 11-month contract period. It covers coordination with PESB, WSAC, and eight autonomous institutions; monthly check-ins; ad hoc meetings; interview and deliverable coordination; and management of the integrated project schedule. An average of project management statewide contracts was $200/hour, this represents 132 hours of consulting, or 12 hours per month.

o Documented membership discounts and cost avoidance. CAEL’s listed institutional membership price is $1,200 annually. The membership calculation prorates existing institutional memberships, applies a 15% multi-institution discount of $2,565, and provides PESB’s membership at no cost, valued at $2,200 over the membership period. These adjustments reduce the listed membership cost by $4,765, resulting in a final membership price of $12,335 through June 30, 2028. Membership provides the eight pilot institutions with group access for unlimited individuals to CAEL’s Member Hub, research, toolkits, webinars, microcourses, communities of practice, professional networking, and discounted training and events.

The final line items—$132,000 for institutional services, $26,400 for project management, and $12,335 for membership—total $170,735. Collectively, the statewide-rate

PESB Sole Source Contract 20270048 Page 11 of 11 comparison, fixed project-management amount, and documented membership discounts support the conclusion that the negotiated price is fair and reasonable.

Attachment 2 – Proposed Draft Sole Source Contract

See next page

Page 1 of 6 Contract 20270048 between PESB and Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), Inc.

(Rev. 05/26)

CONTRACT FOR SERVICES

Contract No. 20270048 between

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR STANDARDS BOARD

STATE OF WASHINGTON

(hereinafter referred to as PESB)

Old Capitol Building, PO Box 47200 Olympia, WA 98504-7200 and

COUNCIL OF ADULT AND EXPERIENCIAL LEARNING, INC.

CAEL

(hereinafter referred to as Contractor) 301 Grant Street #270

Pittsburgh, PA 15219-0019

Taxpayer Identification #41-2349370 Unified Business Identifier #606-236-333

In consideration of the promises and conditions contained herein, PESB and Contractor do mutually agree as follows:

I. RECITALS

The Professional Educator Standards Board resides within the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (hereinafter referred to as OSPI) for administrative purposes only. While OSPI is not a party to this Contract, OSPI Financial Services is responsible for executing this agreement and making payment to the Contractor on behalf of PESB, as specified within the Duties of the Professional Educator Standards Board and OSPI section.

II. DUTIES OF THE CONTRACTOR

II.A. General Objective. The general objectives of this Contract are as follows:

Support PESB, in partnership with Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), in developing consistent, accessible, and rigorous Academic Credit for Prior Learning (ACPL) pathways that recognize verified paraeducator training and work-based learning toward postsecondary credentials and teacher preparation. The Contractor will conduct institutional reviews at eight pilot sites, including policy and process analysis, stakeholder interviews, individual site profiles, and a cross-site synthesis. The Contractor will provide technical assistance to develop competency crosswalks, shared evidence and portfolio tools, unified ACPL and transfer-credit guidance, and joint articulation agreements across associate, bachelor’s, and graduate/teacher-preparation pathways. The Contract also includes project convenings, integrated project management, recommendations for future phases, and access to ACPL research, professional development, communities of practice, and national peer connections.

Page 2 of 6 Contract 20270048 between PESB and Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), (Rev. 05/26)

II.B. Scope of Work. In order to accomplish the general objectives of this Contract, Contractor shall perform the following specific duties to the satisfaction of the PESB Contract Manager:

Contractor shall perform the duties outlined in Attachment B – Statement of Work for

CAEL/PESB

II.C. Deliverables. The Contractor shall provide the following deliverables to the PESB Contract

Manager by the dates indicated below:

SCHEDULE OF DELIVERABLES

Deliverable Due Date

1. Kick-off Convening (September 16, 2026 in Olympia, WA)

a. Preliminary site review report of pilot sites

b. Full-day (8 hour) presentation/workday for pilot site ACPL staff and administration

September 23, 2026

2. CAEL Membership for pilot sites Upon Contract Execution

3. Project Management

a. protocols established with meeting date/times throughout project period September 30, 2026

4. Closing Summit (modality TBD)

a. Share findings and next steps with pilot site

ACPL leaders

b. Share completed unified ACPL and Transfer Credit policies for each site

July 15, 2027

5. Final Written Report to PESB, including:

a. All interviews, meetings, and deliverables for each institution

b. Current state and needs assessment for each site around CPL and Transfer Credit Policy

c. Joint articulation agreements for “bundle” of classes for paraeducators along all pathway levels

d. ACPL Competency Crosswalk aligned to paraeducator training and experience

e. Analysis of go-forward recommendations for future phases.

July 15, 2027

II.D. Unless exempted by PESB, all written documents required under this Contract shall be produced in a format, compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act and meet or exceed Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Conformance Level AA, which is hereby incorporated by this reference. In the event that the materials are not compliant, PESB may require Contractor to promptly make modifications that will make the materials Accessibility compliant. Additionally, PESB shall have the right to modify or copy the materials in order to make them accessible.

https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2FWAI%2Fstandards-guidelines%2Fwcag%2F&data=04%7C01%7CKyla.Moore%40k12.wa.us%7C355d38ee7861415edb2108d9933085bd%7Cb2fe5ccf10a546feae45a0267412af7a%7C0%7C0%7C637702658871143135%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=ADlI%2BwY95wdIuP3D35StRevl5MUUtkjHQaj4fIcOElQ%3D&reserved=0

Page 3 of 6 Contract 20270048 between PESB and Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), (Rev. 05/26)

III. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Contractor shall not commence performance, or be entitled to compensation or reimbursement for any services rendered, prior to the occurrence of each of the following conditions: (1) This Contract must be executed by a representative of the Contractor and the Superintendent; (2) Provisions of Chapter 39.26 RCW require the Agency to file this sole source Contract with the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) for approval; no Contract so filed is effective nor shall work commence under it until the fifteenth (15th) working day following the date of filing, subject to DES approval. In the event DES fails to approve the Contract, the Contract shall be null and void; and, (3) Contract Manager must confirm the occurrence of conditions number one (1) and two (2) and notify the Contractor to commence performance.

The schedule of performance of Contractor’s duties is as follows subject, however, to the three

(3) prior conditions to commencement of performance set forth immediately above:

September 18, 2026, date of approval by DES, or date of execution, whichever is later, through July 31, 2027.

Year 1: September 18, 2026, or date of execution, whichever is later, through June 30, 2027.

Year 2: July 1, 2027, through July 31, 2027.

IV. INVOICING & PAYMENT

IV.A.1. Compensation Amount. In consideration of Contractor’s satisfactory performance of the duties set forth herein, Superintendent shall compensate Contractor in an amount not to exceed a total of one hundred seventy thousand, seven hundred thirty-five dollars ($170,735.00) as noted below in part B, Schedule of Payments. Payment for satisfactory performance shall not exceed this amount unless the parties mutually agree to a higher amount prior to the commencement of any work, which will cause the maximum payment to be increased.

IV.A.2. Funding Source. Funds for the payment of this Contract are provided one hundred percent (100%) by state dollars.

IV.A.3. All expenses necessary to the Contractor’s performance of this Contract not specifically mentioned in the Contract shall be borne in full by the Contractor.

IV.B.1. Billing Procedure. Payment shall be made to the Contractor as follows:

Contractor shall submit invoices to the PESB Contract Manager in accordance with the Schedule of Payments set forth below:

SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS

Deliverable Deliverable Due Date

Payment Amount

1. Kick-off Convening

2. CAEL Membership for pilot sites

3. Initial Project Management

September 30, 2026

$85,335

4. Closing Summit

5. Final Written Report

July 15, 2027 $85,400

Page 4 of 6 Contract 20270048 between PESB and Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), (Rev. 05/26)

IV.B.2. Invoice Requirements. The invoices shall document to the PESB Contract Manager’s satisfaction a description of the work performed and payment requested. Within approximately thirty (30) calendar days of the PESB Contract Manager receiving and approving the invoice, payment will be mailed or electronically transferred to the Contractor by OSPI Agency Financial Services. In instances where multiple deliverables are due within one month, the Contractor shall combine the payment and submit only one (1) invoice for the month.

The invoices must be emailed to the PESB Contract Manager and shall include:

• PESB Contract number

• Contractor name, address, telephone number, and email address for billing issues if someone other than the Contractor’s Contract Manager

• Contractor’s Federal Tax Identification Number

• Contractor’s Statewide Vendor Number

• Description of Services and Deliverables provided

• Date(s) of Service, if applicable

• When travel reimbursement is allowable, include depart/return times

• Invoice amount for each Service or Deliverable, including applicable taxes

Contractor’s invoices for payment shall reflect accurate Contract prices. Invoices will not be processed for payment until receipt of a complete invoice as specified herein. PESB shall have no obligation to pay Contractor for any services that do not comply with this Contract.

IV.B.3. Invoice Requirements. If errors are found in the submitted invoice or supporting documents, the PESB Contract Manager will notify the Contractor. In order to receive payment, it shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to make corrections in a timely manner, resubmit the invoice and/or supporting documentation as requested, and notify the PESB Contract Manager.

IV.B.4. Errors & Corrections. Final payment shall be made after acceptance by the PESB

Contract Manager if received by within sixty (60) days after the Contract expiration date, unless negotiated with the PESB Contract Manager and the OSPI Fiscal Budget Analyst.

There will be no obligation to pay any claims that are submitted sixty-one (61) or more calendar days after the expiration date (“Belated Claims”). Belated Claims will be paid at PESB’s sole discretion, and any such potential payment is contingent upon the availability of funds.

Page 5 of 6 Contract 20270048 between PESB and Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), (Rev. 05/26)

V. CONTRACT MANAGEMENT

The following shall be the contact person for all communications and billings regarding the performance of this contract. Any changes to this information shall be communicated to the other party in writing as soon as reasonably possible.

Contractor PESB

VI. INCORPORATION OF ATTACHMENTS AND ORDER OF PRECEDENCE

Each of the attachments listed below is by this reference hereby incorporated into this Contract.

In the event of an inconsistency in this Contract, the inconsistency shall be resolved by giving precedence in the following order:

• Applicable Federal and state of Washington statutes and regulations

• Special Terms and Conditions as contained in this basic contract instrument

• Attachment A – Contract for Services, General Terms and Conditions

• Attachment B – Statement of Work for CAEL/PESB

• Attachment C – CAEL Client Master Services Agreement

• Any other provision, term or material incorporated herein by reference or otherwise incorporated.

Intentionally left blank Intentionally left blank mailto:liisa.preslan@k12.wa.us

Page 6 of 6 Contract 20270048 between PESB and Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), (Rev. 05/26)

VII. APPROVAL

This Contract shall be subject to the written approval of OSPI’s authorized representative, on behalf of PESB, and shall not be binding until so approved. The Contract may be altered, amended, or waived only by a written amendment executed by both parties.

We the undersigned agree to the terms of the foregoing Contract.

Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), Inc.

Superintendent of Public Instruction State of Washington

Signature Kyla L. Moore, Contracts Administrator

Printed Name Date

Title

Date

Who certifies that he/she is the Contractor identified herein, OR a person duly qualified and authorized to bind the Contractor so identified to the foregoing Agreement.

Approved as to FORM ONLY by the Assistant Attorney General

Page 1 of 14 Contract 20270048 Attachment A – General Terms and Conditions between PESB and

FORM SPI D-283 (Rev. 01/24)

Attachment A Contract for Services

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR STANDARDS BOARD (PESB)

Definitions. As used throughout this Contract and General Terms and Conditions, the following terms shall have the meaning set forth below:

“Contract” or “Agreement” means the entire written agreement between OSPI/PESB and the Contractor, including any attachments, exhibits, documents, or materials incorporated by reference. Contract and Agreement may be used interchangeably.

"Contractor" shall mean that firm, provider, organization, individual, or other entity performing service(s) under this Contract, and shall include all employees of the Contractor.

“Services” means all work performed or provided by Contractor pursuant to this Contract.

“Statement of Work” or “SOW” or “Scope of Work” means a detailed description of the work activities the Contractor is required to perform under the terms and conditions of this Contract, including the deliverables and timeline.

"Subcontractor" shall mean one not in the employment of the Contractor, who is performing all or part of those services under this Contract under a separate contract with the Contractor. The terms " Subcontractor" and " Subcontractors" means Subcontractor(s) in any tier.

"OSPI" shall mean the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Washington, any division, section, office, unit or other entity of OSPI, or any of the officers or other officials lawfully representing OSPI. The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) resides within OSPI for administrative purposes only. While OSPI is not a party to this Agreement, OSPI is responsible for executing this Agreement and making payment on behalf of PESB, as specified within the Duties of the Professional Educator Standards Board and OSPI section.

1. Access to Data. In compliance with Chapter 39.26 RCW, the Contractor shall provide access to data generated under this Contract to OSPI/PESB, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee, and the State Auditor at no additional cost. This includes access to all information that supports the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Contractor’s reports, including computer models and methodology for those models.

2. Alterations and Amendments. This Agreement may be amended only by mutual agreement of the parties. Such amendments shall not be binding unless they are in writing and signed by personnel authorized to bind each of the parties.

3. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, Public Law 101-336, also referred to as the “ADA” 28 CFR Part 35. The Contractor must comply with the ADA, which provides comprehensive civil rights protection to individuals with disabilities in the areas of employment, public accommodations, state and local government services, and telecommunications.

Page 2 of 14 Contract 20270048 Attachment A – General Terms and Conditions between PESB and

FORM SPI D-283 (Rev. 01/24)

4. Assignment. Neither this Contract, nor any claim arising under this Contract, shall be transferred or assigned by the Contractor without prior written consent of OSPI/PESB.

5. Assurances. OSPI/PESB and the Contractor agree that all activity pursuant to this Contract will be in accordance with all applicable current federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations.

6. Attorney’s Fees. In the event of litigation or other action brought to enforce contract terms, each party agrees to bear its own attorney’s fees and costs.

7. Audit Requirements. If the Contractor is a Subrecipient of federal awards as defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) CFR, Part 200, Subpart F, and expends seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) or more in federal awards (does not apply to contracts for goods and services) from all federal sources in any fiscal year beginning on or after December 26, 2014, the Contractor shall procure at their expense a single or program-specific audit for that year. The Contractor shall incorporate OMB CFR, Part 200, Subpart F audit requirements into all contracts between the Contractor and its Subcontractors who are Subrecipients of federal awards. The Contractor shall comply with any future amendments to OMB and any successor or replacement Circular or regulation.

8. Budget Revisions. Any monetary amount budgeted by the terms of this Contract for various activities and line item objects of expenditure may be revised without prior written approval of OSPI/PESB, so long as the revision is no more than ten percent (10%) of the original line item amount and the increase in an amount is offset by a decrease in one or more other amounts equal to or greater than the increase. All other budget revisions exceeding ten percent (10%) shall only be made with the prior written approval of

OSPI/PESB.

9. Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Ineligibility. The Contractor certifies that neither it nor its principals are debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, or voluntarily excluded from participation in transactions by any federal department or agency. The Contractor further certifies that they will ensure that potential subcontractors or any of their principals are not debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, or voluntarily excluded from participation in covered transactions by any federal department or agency. “Covered transactions” include procurement contracts for goods that are expected to equal or exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). Contractor may do so by obtaining a certification statement from the potential subcontractor or subrecipient or by checking online at the System for Award Management (SAM), Excluded Parties List. The Contractor shall immediately notify OSPI/PESB if, during the term of this contract, Contractor becomes debarred. OSPI/PESB may immediately terminate this Contract by providing Contractor written notice if Contractor becomes debarred during the term of this Contract.

The Contractor also certifies that neither it nor its principals are debarred, suspended, or proposed for debarment from participation in transactions by any state department or agency. The Contractor further certifies that they will ensure that potential subcontractors or any of their principals are not debarred, suspended, or proposed for debarment from participation in covered transactions by any state department or agency.

Page 3 of 14 Contract 20270048 Attachment A – General Terms and Conditions between PESB and

FORM SPI D-283 (Rev. 01/24)

10. Certification Regarding Lobbying. The Contractor certifies that Federal-appropriated funds will not be used to pay any person or organization for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a member of Congress, officer or employee of Congress or an employee of a member of Congress in obtaining any Federal contract, grant or any other award covered by 31 USC 1352. Contractor must also disclose any lobbying with non-Federal funds that takes place in connection with obtaining any Federal award. Contractor shall require its subcontractors to certify compliance with this provision.

11. Certification Regarding Wage Violations. The Contractor certifies that within three (3) years prior to the date of execution of this Contract, Contractor has not been determined by a final and binding citation and notice of assessment issued by the Washington Department of Labor and Industries or through a civil judgment entered by a court of limited or general jurisdiction to have willfully violated, as defined in RCW 49.48.082, any provision of RCW chapters 49.46, 49.48, or 49.52.

The Contractor further certifies that it will remain in compliance with these requirements during the term of this Contract. Contractor will immediately notify OSPI/PESB of any finding of a willful violation entered by the Washington Department of Labor and Industries or through a civil judgment entered by a court of limited or general jurisdiction entered during the term of this Contract.

12. Change in Status. In the event of substantive change in the legal status, organizational structure, or fiscal reporting responsibility of the Contractor, Contractor agrees to notify OSPI/PESB of the change. Contractor shall provide notice as soon as practicable, but no later than thirty (30) days after such a change takes effect.

13. Confidentiality. The Contractor acknowledges that all of the data, material and information which originates from this Contract, and any student assessment data, material and information which will come into its possession in connection with performance under this Contract, consists of confidential data owned by the OSPI/PESB or confidential personally identifiable data subject to the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) or other privacy laws, and that the data must be secured and protected from unauthorized disclosure by the Contractor. The Contractor is wholly responsible for compliance with FERPA requirements.

The Contractor, therefore, agrees to hold all such material and information in strictest confidence, not to make use thereof other than for the performance of this Contract, to release it only to authorized employees and agents requiring such information and not release or disclose it to any other party. The Contractor agrees to release such information or material only to employees and agents who have signed a written agreement expressly prohibiting disclosure or usages not specifically authorized by this Contract.

14. Copyright Provisions. Unless otherwise provided, all Materials produced under this Contract shall be considered "works for hire" as defined by the U.S. Copyright Act and copyright shall be owned by OSPI/PESB. OSPI/PESB shall be considered the author of such Materials.