ESOL Requirements for Teachers

As of July 1, 2015, the district no longer reimburses for ESOL classes.

According to the Consent Decree agreement, teachers who have ELL students fall into the following groups, according to the subjects they teach:

Teachers Category 1 – Primary Language Arts Teachers and Reading Teachers

Any teacher instructing one or more ESOL students as the "primary English/Language Arts" teacher is considered a CATEGORY I teacher. CATEGORY I, requires the addition of the Florida State ESOL Endorsement to your valid certificate. The endorsement requirements are as follows:

State ESOL Endorsement – Requirements

  • Certification in another subject appropriate to the teaching assignment
  • 15 semester hours, 300 ESOL in-service points, or a combination of both, with ESOL credit in:
    • Methods of Teaching ESOL
    • Curriculum and Materials Development
    • Cross-Cultural Communication
    • Testing and Evaluation
    • Applied Linguistics

Eligibility to teach ELLs:

Category 1 teachers who have ELLs and who are taking ESOL requirements on an appropriate timeline maintain district compliance with state law; they are eligible to teach ELLs while they are taking their course work. They are out of field in ESOL until they meet the requirements to be certified in ESOL and apply for the addition to their certificates.

Teachers Category 2 – Social Studies, Math, Science, Computer Skills
Training Requirements:

  • Hold certification in a subject appropriate to the teaching assignment
  • Complete 60 ESOL in-service points or 3 semester hours of college credit in ESOL

Teachers Category 3 – “Other teachers”

All other subjects not included in Category I & II (To include Pre-K, Media Specialist, and School Psychologist)

Training Requirements:

  • Hold certification in a subject appropriate to the teaching assignment
  • Complete 18 ESOL in-service points or 3 semester hours of college credit in ESOL

School-Based Administrators & Guidance Counselors-Category 4
Training Requirements:

  • Hold certification appropriate to position
  • Complete 60 ESOL in-service points or 3 semester hours of college credit in ESOL

OR obtain a passing score on the ESOL K-12 Subject Area Test without the need for any further training