Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Dual Language Endorsement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
VDOE officials outline new dual-language endorsement, ask board to consider Global Seal of Biliteracy
Summary
Department of Education coordinators presented the new preK–6 dual-language endorsement created by 2018 legislation, explained assessment and coursework requirements, and asked AvTel to consider recommending that the Board of Education accept the Global Seal of Biliteracy as an alternate language-proficiency pathway.
Department officials urged the advisory board to support broader pathways for teachers to document language proficiency as the state rolls out a dual-language endorsement.
Lisa Harris, coordinator of world languages and international education in VDOE’s office of instruction, said the 2018 law established a preK–6 dual-language endorsement with two pathways: a target-language endorsement for instruction primarily in a language other than English, and a dual-language English pathway for elementary programs that pair English instruction with another language. Harris said teachers applying for the endorsement would be exempt from the VCLA but would still need the applicable subject-area assessments and evidence of language proficiency.
“This legislation was passed in 2018 to establish a dual language endorsement… it established this pre k 6 endorsement, with some required coursework and some background that is needed in order to have that endorsement,” Harris said.
Joelle Cox, coordinator of multilingual learner instruction, said the department is using an interdepartmental team — including teacher licensure, data services and instruction — to add endorsement codes, flag master records, provide technical assistance and publish resources on the Department of Education website.
Harris asked the board to consider whether AvTel should put forward a proposal to the Board of Education to accept the Global Seal of Biliteracy as an option for documenting language proficiency. She noted other states (Illinois and Washington) are exploring similar options.
Board members asked whether teachers who hold the new initial dual-language endorsement could teach regular elementary classrooms. Harris confirmed they could: the endorsement is an additional licensure pathway, not a replacement for the elementary endorsement.
VDOE staff said the teacher-preparation program approval remains in the regulatory process with the secretary of education’s office; until that approval completes, candidates could obtain the endorsement through coursework evaluation, subject-content assessment results, and oral/written proficiency measures (Praxis or ACTFL instruments where available).
Next steps: AvTel may choose to draft and recommend a proposal to the Board of Education asking the board to accept the Global Seal of Biliteracy as an additional pathway; VDOE will continue publishing technical assistance resources and FAQs on its site as the endorsement is implemented.
