Certification Requirements for English

Language Learners (Kindergarten – Grade 12) PURPOSE: The State Board of Education is authorized to grant certificates of license to teach in any of the public schools of the state and establish requirements and qualifications for those certificates. This rule outlines the requirements for application for a certificate of license to teach English Language Learners. (1) An applicant for a Missouri certificate of license to teach English Language Learners (ELL) who possesses good moral character may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach ELL subject to the certification requirements found in 5 CSR 20-400.500 and the following additional certification requirements specific to ELL: (A) General Requirements— 1. A valid Missouri permanent or professional certificate of license to teach. (B) Professional Requirements— 1. Psychology/Education of the Exceptional Child, including the gifted, three (3) semester hours; 2. Literacy (minimum of six (6) semester hours) to include coursework in methods of teaching reading and writing, and to include instructional interventions for students with reading deficits; and 3. The applicant must achieve a score equal to or in excess of the qualifying score on the required exit assessment(s) as defined in 5 CSR 20-400.310 and 5 CSR 20-400.440. The official score shall be submitted to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (department). (C) Content Knowledge for Teaching (minimum requirement of eighteen (18) semester hours)— 1. Linguistics and English Linguistics; 2. Language and Culture or Sociolinguistics; 3. Second Language Acquisition; 4. Instructional Techniques for Teaching English Language Learners; 5. Curriculum for Teaching English Language Learners; and 6. Assessment Strategies for English Language Learners. (D) Field and Clinical Experiences (three (3) semester hours)— 1. Culminating Clinical Experience. A supervised clinical experience in which the candidates acquire experience in planning for and working with ELL students in various instructional settings in both elementary and secondary schools. The clinical experience should include collaborating with other educators to support student learning. (2) The requirements of this rule shall become effective August 1, 2017. AUTHORITY: sections 168.011, 168.405, and 168.409, RSMo 2000, and sections 161.092, 168.021, 168.071, 168.081, and 168.400, RSMo Supp. 2013.* Original rule filed Oct. 29, 2013, effective May 30, 2014. *Original authority: 161.092, RSMo 1963, amended 1973, 2002, 2003, 2013; 168.011, RSMo 1963, amended 1984; 168.021, RSMo 1963, amended 1973, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013; 168.071, RSMo 1963, amended 1973, 1978, 1984, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2013; 168.081, RSMo 1963, amended 1984, 2002; 168.400, RSMo 1985, amended 1990, 2002; 168.405, RSMo 1985; and 168.409, RSMo 1985.