Section:
Most recently amended by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education: June 22, 2021
Endorsements issued by the Department under 603 CMR 4.15 do not constitute a license.
(1) SEI Teacher Endorsement:
(a) SEI Teacher Endorsement is to be awarded upon a demonstration of the subject matter knowledge and skill requirements set forth in 603 CMR 4.10(1)(b)1.g. through-k. and 603 CMR 4.15(1)(b) through one of the following:
Successful completion of a Department-approved course of study specific to providing sheltered English instruction. The Department will issue guidelines to govern approval of this course of study.
Passing a Department-approved assessment.
Attainment of a bachelor's degree in a major approved by the Department, or other graduate level training approved by the Department.
Possession of an English as a Second Language license or an English Language Learners license.
(b) Subject Matter Knowledge:
The basic structure and functions of language.
Second language acquisition factors as they affect access to the Massachusetts standards.
Social-cultural, affective, political, and other salient factors in second language acquisition.
SEI principles and typologies: General academic and domain-specific discourse practices relevant to the grade level (k-5 or secondary), English proficiency level, and content area (English language arts and history; science and mathematics; other content areas).
Implementation of strategies for coordinating SEI and English language development instruction for English learners.
Federal and Massachusetts laws and regulations pertaining to English learners.
Understanding of diversity and background of English learner populations, including family systems, and communities, and their impact on teaching and learning.
Theory, research, and practice of reading and writing for English learners. Practices and approaches for developing reading and writing skills and comprehension in English for English learners who are at different levels of English language proficiency.
The role of oral language development in literacy development for English learners.
Formative and summative assessments for English learners.
Literacy and academic language development. The role of vocabulary development in accessing academic language.
(2) SEI Administrator Endorsement:
(a) SEI Administrator Endorsement is to be awarded upon demonstration of the subject matter and skill requirements set forth in 603 CMR 4.10(2)(b)3.g. and 603 CMR 4.15(2)(b) through one of the following:
Successful completion of a Department-approved course of study for administrators specific to sheltered English instruction. The Department will issue guidelines to govern approval of this course of study.
Possession of an SEI Teacher Endorsement.
Understanding of diversity and background of English learner populations, including family systems, neighborhoods, and communities, and their impact on teaching and learning.
Knowledge of how to build a culture of equity and inclusiveness for linguistically and culturally diverse populations.
Demonstrates an understanding of the use of best practices for sheltering content for, and teaching academic language to, English learners in the classroom.
Understanding of the challenges that English learners face in the mastery of academic language and of the skills to shelter content and scaffold instruction to promote the academic achievement of English learners.
(3) Bilingual Education Endorsement:
(a) Bilingual Education Endorsement is to be awarded to educators who meet all of the following requirements:
A passing score on a foreign language test acceptable to the Department in the relevant foreign language.
Demonstration of the subject matter knowledge and skill requirements set forth in 603 CMR 4.15(3)(b), through one of the following:
Successful completion of a Department-approved course of study for providing bilingual education. The Department shall issue guidelines for approval of this course of study.
A passing score on a test acceptable to the Department.
Completion of 75 hours of field-based experience in a Pre-K through grade 12 dual language education or two-way immersion program, transitional bilingual education program, or other bilingual education setting.
Knowledge of the foundations of bilingual education, including dual language education or two-way immersion and transitional bilingual education, as defined in M.G.L. c. 71A, § 2, and the concepts of bilingualism and biculturalism.
Bilingual language acquisition factors as they affect access to the Massachusetts content and language standards.
Social-cultural, social-emotional, political, and other salient factors in bilingual language acquisition.
Implementation of strategies for coordinating non-English partner language instruction and English language development instruction for English learners.
Practices and approaches of teaching reading and writing in two languages, including the importance of oral language development as a foundation for literacy.
Practices and approaches for assessing content knowledge, reading and writing skills and comprehension in English and the non-English partner language for English learners who are at different levels of proficiency in English and the non-English partner language.
Understanding and implementation of culturally relevant teaching materials and practices.
(c) A candidate who fulfills the requirement in 603 CMR 4.15(3)(a)1 and has at least three years of prior employment experience in a dual language education or two-way immersion program, transitional bilingual education program, or other bilingual education setting, and who can demonstrate that he or she meets the subject matter knowledge and skills requirements set forth in 603 CMR 4.15(3)(b), will be exempt from the requirements set forth in 603 CMR 4.15(3)(a)2. and 3. if he or she applies to the Department and completes all of the requirements for the Bilingual Education Endorsement by June 30, 2020.
(d) A candidate who was prepared outside of Massachusetts shall not be required to complete the requirements set forth in 603 CMR 4.15(3)(a)2. and 3. if such candidate can provide documentation of one of the following:
Completion of an educator preparation program that includes the equivalent of the Department-approved course of study specific to providing services to English learners and is either state-approved under the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement or has been accredited by a national organization accepted by the Commissioner.
Possession of an out-of-state license/certificate/endorsement that is comparable to the Bilingual Education Endorsement issued by a state with which Massachusetts has signed the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement or other agreement accepted by the Commissioner.
(e) Renewal. The Bilingual Education Endorsement shall be valid for five years and may be renewed for successive five-year terms upon successful completion of 15 professional development points (PDPs) in the content area related to 603 CMR 4.15(3)(b). The 15 PDPs may be included in the total number of PDPs necessary for license renewal pursuant to 603 CMR 4.12(8).
Disclaimer: For an official copy of these regulations, please contact the State House Bookstore, at 617-727-2834 or visit Massachusetts State Bookstore.
Last Updated: June 24, 2021
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
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