Agenda Item
c. Metro RESA English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Endorsement Program Collaboration (Not to exceed $72,900)
Summary: Ms. Stacy E. Stepney, Chief Academic Officer, Division of Curriculum & Instruction
Request: Metro RESA - It is requested that the Board of Education approve the contract with Metro RESA in the amount of $72,900 (54 teachers x $1,350.00 per teacher) to provide access for DeKalb teachers to participate in the Metro RESA Online ESOL Endorsement Program and professional libraires. This contract will be supported by Title III federal funds and will not impact the local budget.
Why: The DCSD is experiencing a tremendous growth in the number of students who qualify as English learners. The Metro RESA Endorsement Program will equip teachers with the knowledge and skills to teach our linguistically and culturally diverse students. At the completion of the program, teachers obtain the ESOL Endorsement on their teaching certificates approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC).
Details: The ESOL Endorsement Program at Metro RESA is a GaPSC approved preparation program that provides approved candidates with the coursework and related field experience required to add the ESOL Endorsement to a current standard Georgia Professional Certificate. The ESOL Endorsement at Metro RESA is a GaPSC approved preparation program that provides approved candidates with the coursework and related field experience required to add the ESOL Endorsement to a current standard Georgia Professional Certificate. The ESOL Endorsement prepares educators to demonstrate competency in addressing the instructional, language, and cultural needs of students whose primary language is not English. The courses will prepare educators to effectively meet the unique cultural, linguistic, and instructional needs of English learners.
Candidates will:
develop understanding of English language structures in different discourse contexts
provide knowledge of second language acquisition theory and the developmental process of language
demonstrate knowledge of language processes
apply knowledge of English academic language functions, learning domains, and content-specific language
explore discourse structures and vocabulary to promote English Learners’
https://www.mresa.org/endorsements/esol-endorsement
Financial impact: This contract will be funded by Title III from charge code 460.2213. 530000.07221.7130.1816.6015.035.2024 This has no financial impact on the general funds.
Contact: Ms. Stacy E. Stepney, Chief Academic Officer, Division of Curriculum & Instruction 678.676.0731
Dr. Lenisera Barnes-Bodison, Executive Director, Division of Curriculum & Instruction, 678.676.0166
Dr. Evelyn Hall, Director English Learners Program, Division of Curriculum & Instruction, 678. 676.6602
Effective: March 1, 2024
Status: Approved by General Counsel
Attorney approval not required
DATE: November 2023
This memorandum will serve an agreement between Metropolitan Regional Educational Service Agency (MRESA) and DeKalb County Schools
regarding offering the following MRESA’s Professional Standards Commission (PSC) approved endorsement program(s).
*An endorsement cohort supports 25 candidates on average.
District/Organization
Endorsement Program Cost To District/Organization
Contact Person
ESOL
(4 courses) • $350 Per Participant Per Course*
o Residency Course (Course 4) is $300 Per Participant and offered at district request
Cohorts Offered: __4___ • Four Courses with a Total Per Participant Cost of $1350*
DeKalb County School District
• Teacher Candidate Cohorts (2) consisting of 54 participants = cost $72,900
Anticipated Participants: 54___ English Learners Dept.
• A minimum of 12 participants must be guaranteed financially
Two courses completed January-May Dr. Evelyn Hall
678-676-6602 • District/Organization may contract for a cohort smaller than 12 with a guaranteed financial commitment of
2024 (Summer break) $16,200
Third course completed August- • MRESA will contract with and pay instructors
October 2024 • Books and required resources may be paid by individual participant or district
*Fourth course-Residency
*If a candidate registers for and begins a course, the course fee is applied
*If a candidate withdraws from the program, the course fee will not be required for additional courses unless the minimum participant
requirement is impacted
PLEASE NOTE: To support the MRESA and District/Organization agreement, program Intent to Offer and Cohort Plan of Delivery documents must be completed
by the district contact person or district defined instructor and submitted to the MRESA Program Coordinator Two (2) Weeks prior to the beginning of each
course at minimum.
ESOL Coordinator: Rita Gimenez; rita.gimenez@mresa.org
Endorsement Instructor Instructor Email Phone Number(s)
Please indicate below how your system should be invoiced for this endorsement:
_____Please invoice our system for this entire amount now.
_____Please invoice our system at the end of each course.
*Residency is provided on this agreement at request of district
In support of all collaborative Endorsement Program offerings, MRESA agrees to:
• Provide leadership and structure for the requested endorsement program(s).
• Provide the endorsement application packets to each eligible participant.
• Review and approve instructors identified by the system.
• Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the endorsement programs’ effectiveness.
• Maintain ongoing training and support for instructors.
• Provide final recommendation for endorsement candidates to the PSC.
• Complete required PSC documents for system to send to the PSC on behalf of the participants in order for them to receive their endorsement.
In support of all collaborative Endorsement Program offerings COOPERATING SCHOOL SYSTEM/ORGANIZATION agrees to:
• Implement endorsement program as approved by the PSC.
• Verify eligibility requirements for candidates as stipulated by the endorsement program.
• Identify and provide appropriate meeting sites with technology access.
• Complete paperwork needed for MRESA to provide the PSC documents. (Copies of certifications, assurances, signatures, etc.)
• Work with school leadership to assure support for the participants’ comprehensive involvement in the endorsement program.
• Identify potential instructors to be approved by MRESA and submit resumes and quality documentation for potential instructors.
• Ensure that instructors attend MRESA’s instructor training session.
• Provide required instructor supplies and resources.
• Provide a system contact person for each endorsement offered. This individual will be responsible for communicating with MRESA regarding endorsement
program requirements and other pertinent issues regarding the offering of said endorsement program.
• Pay MRESA the amount designated to cover the cost of the program as offered by the system.
• Commit to provide all of the courses of the endorsement program to allow the enrolled candidates to complete the requirements of the endorsement for
certification.
• Submit Program “Intent to Offer” and “Cohort Plan of Delivery” documents to the MRESA Program Coordinator two weeks prior to the first class for each
course.
I have read the above Memorandum of Agreement and understand my responsibilities as a partner in this agreement.
School System Representative
Metro Regional Educational Service Agency (MRESA) Representative
Metro RESA Partnership Agreement
The DeKalb County School District/EL Department would like to establish a partnership with Metro RESA for the 2023-
2024 ESOL Endorsement Program. The Program would be funded through a grant provided by Metro RESA. The
partnership agreement includes a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines grant-funded-contracted
services for enrollment, online courses, and the GaPSC certification processes for DCSD program completers. Below are
the course descriptions and the cost of textbooks to be purchased by DCSD.
• The following 10-week courses will be provided by the Metro RESA partnership agreement and funded through the
grant:
o Cultural Issues in TESOL -- This 5 PLU course explores theories of language acquisition, with a focus on the
nature and development of first and second language, the elements of linguistics, language varieties, and
the influences on the acquisition of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills of English as an additional
language across age levels. This course is one of three courses that constitute the Georgia state add-on
endorsement for TESOL in public schools.
o Methods and Materials in TESOL -- This 5 PLU course is intended to provide you with an understanding of
theory, methods, and materials for teaching and assessing learners of English as an additional language in
U.S. schools. This course is one of three courses that constitute the Georgia state add-on endorsement for
TESOL in public schools.
o Applied Linguistics in TESOL -- This 5 PLU course explores theories of language acquisition, with a focus on
the nature and development of first and second language, the elements of linguistics, language varieties,
and the influences on the acquisition of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills of English as an
additional language across age levels. This course is one of three courses that constitute the Georgia state
add-on endorsement for TESOL in public schools.
o Residency Course – Clinical Practice
Course Course Projected Dates
Cultural Issues in TESOL January – March 2024
Methods and Materials in TESOL March – May 2024
Applied Linguistics in TESOL August – October 2024
Residency Course August – October 2024
• MRESA will be responsible for providing instructors and paying instructors’ salaries.
• The following texts will be purchased by DCSD for participants:
Metro RESA ESOL Endorsement Program
Text ISBN Link to Purchase
Why TESOL? Theories and Issues in https://he.kendallhunt.com/prod
Teaching English to Speakers of uct/why-tesol-theories-and-
ISBN: 9781524947897 issues-teaching-english-
Other Languages in K-12 speakers-other-languages-k-12-
Kendall Hunt Publishing
Classrooms classrooms
(5th ed.) (E. Ariza)
Developing Multicultural Educators ISBN 10:
https://www.waveland.com/brows
(3rd ed.) (J. Noel) 1-4786-3574-6 e.php?t=347
ISBN 13:
978-1-4786-3574-1
Waveland Press