FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
S
TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Chairman
Members
PETER BOULWARE
AKSHAY DESAI
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
Dr. Eric J. Smith
Commissioner of Education
Contact Information:
Beverly Gregory
Beverly.gregory@fldoe.org
850/245-0431
DPS 2009-82
MEMORANDUM
TO:
School District Superintendents
School District Certification Officers
FROM:
Dr. Frances Haithcock
DATE:
April 27, 2009
SUBJECT: Amendment to Rule 6A-4.0244, F.A.C. ESOL Endorsement
At the March 17, 2009, meeting of the State Board of Education, an amendment for Rule 6A-4.0244,
F.A.C., Specialization Requirements for the Endorsement in English to Speakers of Other Languages-
Academic Class was approved. The amendment is effective April 21, 2009. The amendment removed
the obsolete provision for a grandfather plan that was effective when the ESOL Consent Decree was
first adopted. The grandfather plan was no longer applicable to Florida teachers. Thus, the old
provision was removed from the rule to have a certification rule for the ESOL endorsement that is
current and up to date.
See the attached rule for the complete text. If you have questions, please contact Beverly Gregory as
shown above.
FH/bg
Attachment
DR. FRANCES HAITHCOCK
CHANCELLOR OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org
The text in Section 1 has been renumbered and reformatted.
6A-4.0244 Specialization Requirements for the
Endorsement in English to Speakers of Other Languages –
Academic Class.
(1) A bachelor’s or higher degree with certification in
another subject, and
(2) Fifteen (15) semester hours in English to
speakers of other languages (ESOL) to include credit in each of
the areas specified below:
(a) Methods of teaching English to speakers of other
languages (ESOL),
(b) ESOL curriculum and materials development,
(c) Cross-cultural communication and understanding,
(d) Applied linguistics, and
(e) Testing and evaluation of ESOL.
The following text of Plan Two has been deleted:
(2) Plan Two
(a) The endorsement in English to speakers of other
languages will be added to a valid temporary or professional
certificate when an individual completes the following:
1. Holds a valid Florida educator’s certificate with a
coverage specified as appropriate in the 1989-90 Course Code
Directory as adopted by reference in Rule 6A-1.09441, F.A.C.,
for teaching English to limited English proficient students.
2. Documents at least two (2) years of successful teaching
of English to limited English proficient students using ESOL
strategies. The successful teaching shall have been gained prior
to July 1, 1990, and verified in writing by a Florida district
school superintendent.
(b) The endorsement will be retained on the professional
certificate when an individual completes three (3) semester
hours of college credit or sixty (60) in-service points which are
part of a district master plan for in-service education. The
college credit or in-service points shall be completed for the
first certificate renewal after July 1, 1990, and must be
completed from the area(s) specified below.
1. Methods of teaching English to speakers of other
languages (ESOL),
2. ESOL curriculum and materials development,
3. Cross-cultural communication and understanding,
4. Applied linguistics, and
5. Testing and evaluation of ESOL.
In the event the college credit or in-service points are not
completed during the first renewal period, the endorsement
will be deleted from the certificate.