1. ESL Certification proposal
Bilingual/ESL Department

2. Why do ELAR secondary teachers need ESL certification?
To ensure proper ESL services to all English learners
To comply with state regulation for ESL certification
To decrease the number of teachers placed on the TEA’s ESL waiver every year (162 teachers for )

3. Our recommendation is …
To require all secondary English Language Arts teachers to hold an English as a Second Language certification.
When? Beginning school year.
Previously, high school teachers served their English learners through sheltered instruction so NEISD required teachers to have the SIOP training. This is no longer the state requirement.

4. The Plan
New secondary ELAR teachers to NEISD will have ESL certification upon hire or they will obtain ESL certification within the first year of employment. (May 1)
For current, non-ESL certified secondary ELAR teachers, will have 2 years from notification from the principal. (May 1 of the spring semester of the second year after notification)

5. Things to consider…
The new state regulation states that all teachers who serve English learners, regardless of grade level, must be ESL certified to comply with the ESL pull-out model of instruction.
NEISD will continue to support teachers with in district trainings and ESC 20 sessions.
Teachers will continue to be reimbursed upon successful completion of the certification process.