District/School Administration PK-16 Program Support
English Language Learners

Teacher Qualifications

English as a Second Language (ESL) is a required component of Sheltered English Immersion (SEI). ESL instruction is delivered by a licensed ESL teacher. Information about teaching LEP students can be found at the "Licensure Information" link below

Sheltered content instruction is also a required component of Sheltered English Immersion (SEI). Teachers of content, elementary and secondary, who have limited English proficient (LEP) in their classrooms must be qualified to shelter content instruction. To become qualified, teachers must have the skills and knowledge described in the Commissioner's Memorandum of June 2004. In this memorandum, the skills and knowledge needed to deliver sheltered content instruction are organized in four categories: Category 1 - Introduction to Second Language Acquisition; Category 2 - Sheltering Content Instruction; Category 3- Assessing Speaking and Listening, and Category 4, Reading and Writing in the Sheltered Content Classroom.

Under state law, all teachers who teach in English must be fluent and literate in English. More information about this requirement can be found below.

• English Language Proficiency Requirements and other Qualifications for Teachers under Question 2
• Licensure Information: To obtain information about ESL Licensure and other License information.