FCPS Instructional Services: ESOL Teacher Certification

ESOL Teacher Certification

The No Child Left Behind federal legislation requires that teachers be licensed in the area(s) they teach. The licensure requirements to teach ESL in Virginia include passing Virginia Communication and Language Assessment (VCLA) score effective January 1, 2006 and a license to teach ESL in Virginia or have the necessary coursework to qualify for a ESL teaching license. You may qualify for a provisional Virginia ESL license if you have completed 6 out of the 8 ESL endorsement courses and the passing ESL credits are listed on an official transcript from a regionally accredited college or university. The Virginia ESL endorsement coursework requirements are listed at the end of this message under 8VAC20-22-350 English as a second language preK-12.

The application process in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is a three-part process:

Submit a resume at http://www.fcps.edu/DHR/applicants/teachvac.htm.
Complete automated on-line interview and a Teacher Insight interview.
Contact the ESOL central office (703.846.8632) to set up an ESOL content interview.
Send resumes to schools with vacancies. The vacancy list will be posted on www.fcps.edu under "Job Opportunities".

The Human Resources Office offers contract to candidates at the request of school administrators. Please free to contact Mary Howlette (Maryfrances.Howlette@fcps.edu or 703.846.8633) if you have further question.

VIRGINIA LICENSURE REGULATIONS GOVERNING PREK-12 ENDORSEMENTS, SPECIAL EDUCATION, SECONDARY GRADES 6-12 ENDORSEMENTS, AND ADULT EDUCATION.

8VAC20-22-350. English as a second language preK-12

Individuals seeking licensure with preK-12 endorsements, special education, secondary grades 6-12 endorsements, or adult education may meet requirements through the completion of an approved program or, if employed by a Virginia public or nonpublic school, through the

alternative route to licensure. Components of the licensure program include a degree in the liberal arts and sciences (or equivalent), professional teacher's assessment requirement prescribed by the Board of Education, specific endorsement requirements, and professional studies requirements.

8 VAC 20-21-250. English as a second language preK-12.

A. The program in English as a second language will ensure that the candidate has demonstrated the following competencies:

1. Knowledge of general linguistics and English linguistics;

2. Skills in elementary and secondary teaching methods and student assessment for English as a second language;

3. Skills in the teaching of reading;

4. Knowledge of the effects of socio-cultural variables in the instructional setting;

5. Proficiency in spoken and written English;

6. Knowledge of another language and its structure; and

7. Understanding of and proficiency in grammar, usage, and mechanics and their integration in writing.

B. Endorsement requirements. The candidate must have:

1. Graduated from an approved teacher preparation program in English as a second language; or

2. Completed a major in English as a second language or 24 semester hours of course work distributed in the following areas:

a. Teaching of reading (the courses must include the five areas of reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and text comprehension as well as the similarities and differences between reading in a first language and reading in a second language; one course must address reading instruction to English language learners): 6 semester hours;

b. English linguistics (including phonology, morphology, syntax of English): 3 semester hours

c. Cross-cultural education: 3 semester hours

d. Modern foreign languages (if an applicant's primary language is other than English, all hours must be in English): 6 semester hours

e. Electives in: second language acquisition, general linguistics, applied linguistics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics ESL assessment, or ESL curriculum development: 3 semester hours; and

f. Methods of teaching English as a second language at the elementary and secondary levels: 3 semester hours

Source: Virginia Licensure Regulations for School Personnel Website:

http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Compliance/TeacherED/nulicvr.pdf