English as a Second Language (ESL)

MONTGOMERY COUNTY INTERMEDIATE UNIT’S
ESL CERTIFICATE/TRAINING PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Montgomery County Intermediate Unit’s (MCIU) approved ESL Certificate program provides 12 credits of coursework to give educators the required knowledge and skills to meet PDE competency requirements.  Teachers may take the courses for either continuing professional education (CPE) hours or graduate credit through Immaculata University.  Each course requires the completion of a culminating project. 

In order to qualify for the certificate, the teacher must hold a Pennsylvania Instructional I or Instructional II certificate. To view the PDE Framework for English as a Second Language Program Specialist guidelines (5/11) visit the PDE website: 
For questions related to your specific certification and requirements, you must contact PDE directly.
 
Recent PDE revisions to the ESL Program Specialist Training Program will be taking affect September 2012.  As the MCIU gets clarification of the new guidelines the MCIU will be implementing the changes.  All participants will need to follow the PDE new guidelines as applicable 
 
The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires that each person receiving the ESL Program Specialist certificate demonstrate competencies in four areas: linguistics, assessment/support, instructional materials/program design, and cultural diversity. 

  

 

 

What is the difference between enrolling in a course for CPE credit or for graduate credit?

Course requirements are the same for CPE credit or graduate credit:

 

100% Attendance

Satisfactory completion of all assignments

Successful demonstration of all course competencies

Culminating Project

 

CPE credit courses: receive a pass/fail grade and participants receive a Letter of Completion

Graduate credit courses: receive a letter grade and a grade report from Immaculata University

 

 
 

# of CREDITS

In-Class Instruction Hours

Out-of-Class Instruction Hours

Total Instructional Hours

Culminating Project Required

CPE

Fee

Graduate Fee

Immaculata

University

ACT 48 Hours

3

42

48

90

X

$450

$900

90

ESL PROGRAM SPECIALIST TRAINING COMPLETION 

  • A Letter of Completion (CPE credit) or Immaculata University grade report (graduate credit) will be provided to participants for each ESL course completed at the MCIU.
  • When all 12 credits are completed to satisfy the PA Department of Education competency requirements the student must then complete a MCIU Request for ESL Program Course Verification form located on the MCIU website at www.mciu.org/ESL. Follow the instructions on the form.  NOTE: If a student has taken a course through another institution they must confirm with the MCIU that the credit will be accepted. The MCIU will only process a “Request for ESL Program Course Verification” if the majority of courses were taken with the MCIU.
  • MCIU will provide the student with an Attestment of Program Specialist ESL Training Component letter that they must file with PDE in order to receive their ESL certificate.
  • Students must then file the Attestment of Program Specialist ESL Training Component Completion letter with PDE for their ESL certificate.  The following link will assist you: PDE ESL Program Specialist Forms website (The ESL code is 4499). 

What coursework does MCIU provide?

A listing of required coursework can be accessed by choosing "MCIU ESL Program Coursework" from the left hand navigation bar.
 
MCIU ESL Program FAQs
 
MCIU ESL Program frequently asked questions can be accessed by choosing "MCIU ESL Program FAQs" from the left hand navigation bar.
 
Current List of ESL courses
 
Visit www.mciu.org/ESLcoursesonly to view current schedule of ESL Program Specialist Courses.
 

Contact Lois Winton with any questions at 610-755-9315 or lwinton@mciu.org