Get an ESL certificate and $500
More than 90 languages are spoken in the homes of Dallas ISD students, and more than 70,000 students are considered emergent bilingual, which means that the district needs more teachers certified in English as a second language to better serve students and ensure they are successful. And Dallas ISD is offering a $500 incentive for qualifying teachers who obtain the certification.
An ESL certification provides core teachers of emergent bilingual students in early childhood through sixth grade and secondary English language arts and reading teachers the skills necessary to support students’ simultaneous mastery of content and language. These skills also have the potential to impact higher student outcomes and lead to higher TEI outcomes for teachers.
That is why the district is offering the incentive as well as a series of in-person and virtual professional development opportunities to prepare teachers to take the certification exam.
“We are working in partnership with teachers to ensure that students can have an ESL certified teacher in the classroom that can best guide their learning so they can master the English language and take full advantage of the learning opportunities offered,” said Elizabeth Casas, deputy chief of Special Populations.
In person sessions are offered starting Jan. 14 during the school day and cover test preparation and pedagogy implementation. The sessions are seven hours and substitutes will be provided by the district for teachers who choose to attend the sessions. Sign up for an in-person session at Tiny.cc/ESLCertPrepInPerson.
Paid virtual sessions will be offered starting Jan. 16 during evenings and Saturdays and will cover test preparation. Sign up for a virtual sessions at Tiny.cc/ESLCertPrepVirtual.
To receive the $500 incentive in their July paycheck, qualifying teachers must:
- Be a core content elementary teacher in grades PreK-5th/6th or a Secondary English Language Arts Reading teacher
- Attend a Dallas ISD in-person or virtual ESL Certification Preparation session
- Pass the TExES 154 ESL certification exam (cost $116)
- Add the certification to your Texas Teaching License through SBEC (cost $78)
- Submit your SBEC certification and proof of PD attendance to bilingualesl@dallasisd.org by May 1.
For more information, download the flyer.
