February 22, 1994

M E M O R A N D U M

TO: District School Superintendents

FROM: Robert M. Conners, Acting Deputy Commissioner

SUBJECT: Termination of ESOL Grandfather Plan

The purpose of this memorandum is to bring to your attention information regarding ESOL grandfathering as articulated by the Bureau of Teacher Certification.

Representatives of the Department and attorneys from META have agreed to continue the grandfathering Provision for the ESOL Endorsement through August 31, 1994. Beginning September 1, 1994, adding the ESOL Endorsement to a valid certificate based on provisions of the grandfather plan will be eliminated. It seems evident that most of the individuals who are eligible for the ESOL Endorsement certification by grandfathering have received this endorsement.

Since the grandfather plan will be phased out September 1, 1994, please make a final review of teachers in your district and identify all teachers who meet the criteria of the grandfather provision as specified on Form CF-101. Submit Form CF-101 to the Bureau of Teacher Certification for each teacher who meets the criteria stipulated on this form no later than August 31, 1994.

The ending of the ESOL grandfather plan in no way affects any individual granted this endorsement. The timelines for completion of the ESOL strategies training requirement for retention of the ESOL Endorsement by grandfathering remain the same.

While it is important that any and all teachers who are entitled to obtain the ESOL Endorsement through grandfathering do so prior to September 1, 1994, it is equally important that any such teacher fully meet the requirements for grandfathering delineated in the DOE-META Consent Decree. The Division of Public Schools is obligated to ensure the integrity of the grandfathering process, and thereby to review that process at the district level as part of its monitoring function. Any individual, school-wide, or district-wide irregularity in the grandfathering process which is established by the Division of Public Schools shall be reported for appropriate action to the Bureau of Teacher Certification and the office of Professional Practices Services.

Please refer any questions or concerns which you may have regarding this matter to Bernardo A. Garcia, Director, Office of Multicultural Student Language Education, (850) 922-7294, SunCom 292-7294.