The RETELL initiative (Rethinking Equity in the Teaching of English Language Learners) represents a commitment to address the persistent gap in academic proficiency experienced by EL students. At the heart of this initiative are training and licensure requirements for the Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement, which core academic and career vocational teachers of ELs and principals/assistant principals and supervisors/directors who supervise or evaluate such teachers must obtain.
The cohort of all career vocational technical teachers who instructed English learners during the 2017-2018 school year, and principals, assistant principals, and supervisors/directors who supervised or evaluated such teachers, must earn the appropriate SEI Endorsement by July 1, 2021. Members of the cohort who fail to earn an SEI endorsement by July 1, 2021, shall not be eligible to advance or renew their license under 603 CMR 4.00, 603 CMR 7.00, and 603 CMR 44.00 until such members earn an SEI endorsement; provided however, upon a showing of hardship, the Department may grant a member of the cohort an extension of time beyond July 1, 2021.
After July 1, 2021, any unendorsed CAT who is assigned an EL will have 12 months from the time of that assignment to earn the SEI Endorsement.
Only core academic teachers who were assigned an EL or administrators who supervise/evaluate core academic teachers who were assigned ELs during their districts' cohort years are required to obtain the SEI Endorsement prior to July 1, 2016. Under 603 CMR 7.15 and 603 CMR 14.07 those CATs who were assigned an EL at any point during their districts' cohort years and who fail to earn an SEI Endorsement by the time designated for their cohort, will not be eligible to renew, advance, or extend their educator license when it is due for such action until they earn an SEI Endorsement.
Prior to July 1, 2016 a CAT who was never assigned an EL during their district's cohort years is not required to earn the Endorsement.
After July 1, 2016, any unendorsed CAT who is assigned an EL will have 12 months from the time of that assignment to earn the SEI Endorsement.
Any educator who wishes to earn the SEI endorsement may enroll in an endorsement course for a cost through one of the state-approved vendors. Information about for-cost courses can be found at For-Cost Courses webpage.
Educators who take and pass the SEI MTEL are eligible to receive the SEI Endorsement. Information about the test, including registration procedures and preparation materials, can be found at SEI MTEL Information webpage.
Educators who possess an ESL license are automatically eligible for the SEI Endorsement and will receive it once they apply. Information about licensing can be found on the webpage for the Office of Educator Licensure.
Educators who have previously completed graduate-level coursework that they believe may qualify them for the SEI Endorsement may request a transcript review from the Licensure Office.
To request a transcript review, an educator must apply for the endorsement and select path 2, which is a transcript review based on a related degree or graduate level training. Instructions for applying for the SEI Endorsement can be found at A Step by Step Guide .
For questions about transcript reviews or other license-related topics, please contact the Office of Educator Licensure at 781-338-6600.
July 31, 2018 SEI Endorsement Course Locations
July 20, 2018 Letter to Career Vocational Technical Educators
June 11, 2018 Memo Regarding Availability of SEI Endorsement Reports
June 22, 2017 Memo from the Commissioner regarding SEI Endorsement Reports
May 26, 2016 Notification to update list of CATs assigned ELLs in 2016
May 26, 2016 An Important Notice Regarding SEI Endorsement Requirements as of July 1, 2016
Hardship Exception
SEI Smart Card
How to apply for the SEI Endorsement
EPIMS contacts by district (for educators who need help in locating their educator ID (MEPID)
Department-approved Professional Development Offerings Leading to SEI PDPs for Relicensure
For information about the ACCESS for ELLS® annual English language proficiency assessment, visit the Student Assessment webpage.
Last Updated: October 1, 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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