FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
John L. Winn
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
JULIA L. JOHNSON
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
LINDA K. TAYLOR
CONTACT
PERSONS
Name:
Lisa C. Saavedra
Kathy
Hebda
Barbara
Elzie
Phone:
(850) 245-0692
(850) 245-0891
(850) 245-0503
Email:
lisa.saavedra@fldoe.org
kathy.hebda@fldoe.org
barbara.elzie@fldoe.org
K-12:
2005-91
July 21, 2005
M E M O R A N D U M
TO:
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District School Superintendents
Deans of Colleges of Education
FROM:
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Jeanine Blomberg, Chief of Staff
Mary Laura Openshaw, Director
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Just Read, Florida! Office
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SUBJECT:
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Use of District Add-On ESOL Endorsement Earned through College Credit to
Complete Reading Endorsement
On March 4, 2005, the Department released Memorandum
REESOL Professional Development
(K-12
2005-26) regarding a new option to obtain the Reading Endorsement. The REESOL Plan option was
initially approved for certain teachers who obtained the ESOL Endorsement through completion of a
school district’s approved ESOL Endorsement Add-on Program based upon 300 hours of inservice credit.
This memorandum addresses the issue of eligibility to complete the REESOL Plan for the Reading
Endorsement for teachers who have earned certification in the ESOL Endorsement based upon college
course work. Assisting teachers in receiving training in the latest research-based reading instructional
JEANINE BLOMBERG
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CHIEF OF STAFF
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325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org
Memorandum
July 21, 2005
Page Two
methods is a priority of the Department, and we are pleased to provide this additional eligibility
information to Professional Development Directors to clarify the process of determining eligibility for a
teacher to complete an approved REESOL Plan.
Local school district staff are solely responsible for determining eligibility for their teachers to participate
in the REESOL Plan. The Bureau of Educator Certification cannot make this determination. The
REESOL Plan is grounded in a cross-walk of reading competencies with state-approved ESOL
competencies, which may be specifically identified in the approved ESOL Endorsement Add-on Program.
School districts have the authority through their approved Add-on Programs to utilize college credits
toward inservice components when district staff can identify in them the specific competencies required
in each inservice component. District staff should utilize this process when reviewing a teacher’s
eligibility for REESOL participation.
Based upon these provisions, individuals with the following types of ESOL training should be considered
eligible to participate by a district professional development director or their designee in the REESOL
Plan for obtaining the Reading Endorsement:
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An official transcript reflecting completion of a Florida state approved teacher preparation
program in ESOL K-12;
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An official transcript reflecting completion of a Florida state approved teacher preparation
program in ESOL Endorsement, or
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Official verification from a Florida school district of completion of an approved ESOL
Endorsement Add-on Program (300 hours). This may include appropriate college credits in
accordance with the district’s approved plan.
Please note that individuals who hold certification in the ESOL Endorsement based upon the “grandfather
provision” available through September 1994, or who have earned ESOL K-12 certification by passing
the subject area examination are not eligible to participate in the REESOL Plan. Those teachers may
complete requirements for the Reading Endorsement through appropriate college credit or an approved
district add-on program in Reading Endorsement.
We recognize the significant partnerships our districts have with colleges of education in providing ESOL
training to our teachers and anticipate that this memorandum will both support those partnerships and
benefit eligible teachers by providing them with the opportunity to complete this additional option for
certification in the Reading Endorsement.
cc:
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Mary Jane Tappen
Pamela Stewart
Kathy Hebda
Barbara Elzie
Lisa C. Saavedra
Beverly Gregory
Directors of Colleges of Education
District Directors of Professional Development
District Certification Contacts
District ESOL Coordinators
