Certification
Page Navigation
- Overview
- Applying for FLDOE Certification
- Renewing the FLDOE Certificate
- Certification Testing and Prep
- ESOL Compliance
- Fee Exam Waiver Information
- Athletic Coaching
- Alternative Certification
- District Vocational Certification
- Grant Opportunity for Teachers and their Spouses with Military Service Background
ESOL FAQ
-
Is ESOL Compliance mandatory?
Yes. The Florida Consent Decree (1990) outlines the ESOL Compliance requirements for all teachers, counselors, and administrative faculty. Teachers and staff that do not meet the ESOL Compliance requirements risk being non-reappointed.
-
How do I determine my ESOL Category?
ESOL Category designations are outlined below:
Category 1 – Teachers of Language Arts, English, Reading, Elementary or ESE
Category 2 – Teachers of Social Studies, Mathematics, Science or Computer Literacy
Category 3 – Teachers of Fine Arts or Electives (including Speech-Language Pathologists and Occupational/Physical Therapists)
Category 4 – School based Administrators or School Counselors -
What are the ESOL Compliance requirements for each category?
Category 1 – Completion of 5 approved ESOL courses (ESOL Endorsement) or a passing score on the ESOL K-12 Subject Area Exam and the completion of 2 ESOL courses (ESOL Certification)
Category 2 – Completion of one approved ESOL course or 60 ESOL in-service points
Category 3 – Completion of one approved ESOL course or 18 ESOL in-service points
Category 4 – Completion of one approved ESOL course or 60 ESOL in-service points -
How long do I have to complete the requirements?
Category 1 – Six years from the date of your first Out of Compliance notice (OOC)
Category 2 – One year after assuming the Category 2 position
Category 3 – One year after assuming the Category 3 position
Category 4 – One year after assuming the Category 4 position -
What if my ESOL Category changes?
Your ESOL Compliance requirements will be based on the Category of your current position. However, the timeline for completion does not end for your original Category so if you were Category 1 and changed to Category 2 and then considered returning to a Category 1 position, the original date for completion from your first Category would still apply.
-
Does the District offer the ESOL courses free of charge?
Yes. All 6 ESOL courses are offered free of charge to active employees.
-
How often are the courses offered?
All 6 ESOL courses are offered two (2) times per year in June, and October. Registration for each session through eLearning opens the month before classes begin.
-
How do I register for an ESOL course?
Registration opens the month before the course session begins. To register, from the portal click the PeopleSoft tile and then the My eLearning tile. From the left side menu, click Find Learning and enter a keyword from the title of the course in the search box and click the arrows next to the box. You may need to scroll a little to find the course depending on the keyword used.
-
Can I take all 5 Category 1 courses in a single session?
No. Due to the demand for courses and limited resources, we ask that you only take one course per session.
-
Do ESOL courses taken in college count for ESOL Compliance?
They may depending on the topic. Please email Pablo Rivabella to request that he evaluate your transcripts on file for ESOL coursework. If your transcripts are not on file with the District you will need to send him an official/sealed copy. Send to:
Pablo Rivabella
Department of Multicultural Education
3388 Forest Hill Blvd., Suite A-204
West Palm Beach, FL 33406 -
Is there an exam I can take instead of the classes?
Yes. You can add the ESOL Certification to your teaching certificate with a passing score on the ESOL K-12 Subject Area Exam (SAE). You will also need to complete 120 ESOL inservice points within three (3) years of passing the test. More information on registering for the SAE can be found at: http://www.fl.nesinc.com/FL_Register.asp
-
Where can I see my ESOL Compliance status online?
From the portal click the PeopleSoft tile, then click the eLearning tile. There will be a tab at the top of the page called My ESOL. It will show the number of points you currently have in each Category, and whether or not you have met the compliance requirements.
-
Why does it say I am still out of compliance for Cat 1 after completing all the courses?
After you have completed the 5 courses, or passed the ESOL K-12 SAE, you will still remain out of compliance until you have added the ESOL Endorsement or ESOL Certification to your teaching certificate. Information on both processes is available at https://www.fldoe.org/teaching/certification/additions/
-
I was conferred the ESOL Endorsement with my degree but it still shows I am out of compliance?
You still need to have the ESOL Endorsement added to your teaching certificate to be in compliance. Information is available at https://www.fldoe.org/teaching/certification/additions/
-
What are the titles of the ESOL courses?
ESOL: Methods of Teaching (60 ESOL inservice points - recommended for Category 2)
ESOL: Applied Linguistics (60 ESOL inservice points)
ESOL: Curriculum and Materials (60 ESOL inservice points)
ESOL: Testing and Evaluation (60 ESOL inservice points)
ESOL: Cross Cultural Communications (60 ESOL inservice points - recommended for Category 4)
Enriching Elective Classes for ELLs (18 ESOL inservice points - recommended for Category 3)
