The Multilingual / Language Development Department offers information for teachers who are teaching or interested in learning more about teaching English Learners. Included on this page are the requirements to add the ESL and/or Bilingual endorsements to a Professional Educator License. Information on licenses with Stipulations such as the ELS-TBE and Visiting International Teacher (VIT) can be found on this page.

ISBE offers Professional Development to any educator who supports English Learners. Many offerings are at no cost to the district or educator. Literacy Squared is offered as an annual cohort for K-5 teachers of dual language classes that includes strategies to reinforce biliteracy. WIDA workshops are flexible and available virtually or in person and cover a variety of topics. Please see below for more information on these topics.

External Resources

Instructional Resources

Professional Associations

PreK - 12 Bilingual and ESL Matrix

Please review the PreK – 12 Bilingual and ESL Matrix to learn more about what endorsement combinations can be used for teaching Bilingual and ESL classes in Illinois.

Teacher Recruitment

Resources for Students Interested in Teaching

Short-Term Approval for Bilingual/ESL Endorsement

Educators with at least nine credit hours toward a Bilingual or an ESL Endorsement or who have successfully passed the content or language tests associated with the endorsement may submit Form 73-96 to request a short-term approval from ISBE. If approved, the endorsement will be added to the educator’s Professional Educator License for a period of three years. The educator will have three years to complete all missing requirements to keep the ESL or Bilingual Endorsement. This short-term approval is non-renewable.

Form 73-96: Request for Short-Term Approval

OBTAIN PEL VIA PRESCHOOL FOR ALL

Early Childhood Program Directors & English Learner Program Directors (Pathways to a Professional Educator License)

Educator Licensure

Resources listed here support educators and administrators serving English Learners

Review the requirements to receive an endorsement in Bilingual Education or English as a Second Language by expanding the blue bar on the Subsequent Teaching Endorsements page entitled “Special PK-12".
Review the Pathways to Licensure for Bilingual Education and English as a Second Language.
Please visit the Educator Licensure page for complete requirements to be certified with an Educator License with Stipulations (ELS-TBE).

Visiting International Teacher Program

Professional Development

ISBE offers Professional Development to any educator who supports English Learners. ISBE-sponsored workshops are offered at no cost to districts or educators. Please check out the professional learning opportunities listed below.

Resources

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