Flagged Out-of-Field for ESOL?

  Teachers can meet their State training requirements by obtaining an ESOL Endorsement or an ESOL Certification.

• Pathways to an ESOL Endorsement - Complete 300 hours of ESOL coursework:
  • Complete five ESOL Endorsement courses through Pasco County Schools.
  • Complete ESOL Endorsement courses offered by any online institution, such as the Schultz Institute, CTechEd, a university, or a college. Expenses related to courses taken outside of Pasco County will not be reimbursed.
  • Take 60-hour college courses aligned with the FLORIDA TEACHER STANDARDS for ESOL ENDORSEMENT. All college courses must be evaluated before credit is awarded. Please complete the ESOL Transcripts Review form.

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• Pathway to an ESOL Certification:
  • Complete 120 hours of ESOL coursework as mentioned above, and
  • Pass the Florida Teaching Certification Examination (FTCE) test for ESOL K-12. Click HERE for Test Preparation Strategies.

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Teachers who have previously completed ESOL Endorsement courses at colleges or universities should request a transcript review using this link: College Courses Review. 

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ESOL Courses and Teacher Categories

The Consent Decree is Florida's framework for complying with federal and state laws and jurisprudence regarding the education of English Language Learner (ELL) students. The Consent Decree addresses the civil rights of ELL students, foremost among which is their right to access all educational programs. To address these rights, the Consent Decree provides a structure that ensures ELL students receive the comprehensible instruction to which they are entitled. It also requires teachers to receive training and use ESOL strategies when teaching ELL students.                                                   

 

Category I

Teachers of:

• Elementary School Language Arts
• English Developmental Language Arts
• Intensive Reading
• Reading

Endorsement Pathways

• Complete five in-service ESOL Endorsement online courses (300 hours/in-service points total): ESOL Assessments, ESOL Culture, ESOL Curriculum, ESOL Language and Literacy, and ESOL Methods. Each online course is worth 60 in-service points and may be taken in any order;  OR
• Complete five college courses (15 semester hours) covering the Florida Teacher Standards for ESOL;  OR
• Pass the ESOL Subject Area Exam and complete any two of the five 60-hour ESOL Endorsement courses (120 in-service points) within three years of passing the exam; OR
• Complete five ESOL Endorsement Courses through an authorized learning center.

Timeline once flagged as Out Of Field (OOF) for ESOL

• Three semester hours or 60 ESOL Endorsement in-service points by the end of the second year of being tagged, and 60 ESOL Endorsement in-service points each year of the following years until all five courses are completed, OR
• Six semester hours or 120 ESOL Endorsement in-service points during the first three years, when passing the ESOL Subject Area Exam.

Important Note: If a Category I teacher is flagged as Out of Field (OOF) for ESOL and later transfers to a position within another category, the teacher must still complete Category I requirements.

 

ESOL Endorsement Courses for Category I teachers (60 hours each). These courses can be taken in any order.

Testing and Evaluation of ESOL (TE):  Instruction is informed by teachers assessing student understanding in multiple ways (e.g., progress monitoring, formative, and summative). Teachers use assessment data to identify the appropriate instructional approach, select appropriate scaffolds, guide differentiation of instruction, and use corrective feedback.Teachers use a variety of assessment tools to monitor student progress, achievement, and learning gains

Communication and Understanding for English Language Learners (ELLs) (CU): Teachers demonstrate strategies that support ELLs’ learning of academic content and language for measurable academic progress

Curriculum and Materials Development (CM): Teachers will plan and deliver lessons that include English language acquisition and meet the needs of ELLs at varying English proficiency levels. Teachers use technological tools and benchmarks-aligned resources to effectively meet the needs of ELLs at varying English proficiency levels

Applied Linguistics (AL):  Teachers will demonstrate understanding that language is a system to support ELLs’ acquisition of English at varying proficiency levels.

Methods of Teaching ESOL (MT): Teachers will apply knowledge of evidence-based practices and requirements in the field of ESOL. Teachers will apply evidence-based practices to deliver instruction that supports and accelerates English language acquisition. Teachers will ensure ELLs have access to benchmarks-aligned academic content to provide language support at varying English proficiency levels

Fall 2026 Semester ESOL Endorsement courses information:

• Registration: August 3rd to  August 22nd, 2026. 
• How to register: teachers must go to myPGS, then search ESOL
• Semester dates: September 1st 2026, and end on January 3rd, 2027. 

Teachers must enroll in only one ESOL Endorsement course at a time. Multiple registrations will be deleted from the system.

ESOL Endorsement Courses (300 hours)	Section
Assessments / Testing and Evaluation of ESOL (TE)	42272
Culture / Communication and Understanding for English Language Learners (CU)  (open year-round)	42273
ESOL Curriculum and Materials Development (CM)	42277
Language and Literacy / Applied Linguistics (AL)	42278
Methods of Teaching ESOL (MT)	42279

 

 

 

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Category II 

Teachers of:

• Social Studies
• Math
• Science
• Computer Literacy

Compliance Pathways:

• Complete one district in-service ESOL Endorsement online course (any of the five 60-hour ESOL Endorsement in-service points total);  OR
• Complete one college course (3 semester hours) covering any of the Florida Teacher Standards for ESOL;  OR
• Complete one ESOL Endorsement Course through an authorized learning center.

Timeline:

• One year to complete.

ESOL Endorsement Course for Category II teachers (60 hours). Category II Teachers need to take only ONE 60 hour course.

Testing and Evaluation of ESOL (TE):  Instruction is informed by teachers assessing student understanding in multiple ways (e.g., progress monitoring, formative, and summative). Teachers use assessment data to identify the appropriate instructional approach, select appropriate scaffolds, guide differentiation of instruction, and use corrective feedback.Teachers use a variety of assessment tools to monitor student progress, achievement, and learning gains

Communication and Understanding for English Language Learners (ELLs) (CU): Teachers demonstrate strategies that support ELLs’ learning of academic content and language for measurable academic progress

Curriculum and Materials Development (CM): Teachers will plan and deliver lessons that include English language acquisition and meet the needs of ELLs at varying English proficiency levels. Teachers use technological tools and benchmarks-aligned resources to effectively meet the needs of ELLs at varying English proficiency levels

Applied Linguistics (AL):  Teachers will demonstrate understanding that language is a system to support ELLs’ acquisition of English at varying proficiency levels.

Methods of Teaching ESOL (MT): Teachers will apply knowledge of evidence-based practices and requirements in the field of ESOL. Teachers will apply evidence-based practices to deliver instruction that supports and accelerates English language acquisition. Teachers will ensure ELLs have access to benchmarks-aligned academic content to provide language support at varying English proficiency levels

ESOL Course for Cat II Teachers (60 hours)	Section
Cat II Culture / Communication and Understanding for English Language Learners (CU)  (open year-round)	42308

 

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Category III

Teachers of other subjects not included in Categories I and II (Physical Education, Music, Art, School Psychologists, School Social Workers, Speech Pathologists, World Languages).

Compliance Pathways:

Complete ESOL for Content Areas online course through district or an outside authorized learning center (18 hours/in-service points total).

Timeline:

• One year to complete

ESOL for Content Areas: Addresses theories related to the effect of culture on language learning and school achievement for ELLs from diverse backgrounds. 

• Duration: May 2026 through May 2027
• How to register: through myPGS, then search ESOL

ESOL Course for Cat III Teachers (18 hours)	Section
ESOL for Content Areas - Cat III Teachers	41372

 

 

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Category IV

School Administrators, School Counselors, and Academic Advisors.

Compliance Pathways:

Complete ESOL for School Administrators and Counselors online course through district or an outside authorized learning center  (60 hours/in-service points total).

Timeline:

• One year to complete.

ESOL Course for Category IV teachers (60 hours)

ESOL for School Administrators and Counselors: Addresses the history, public policy, research, and current practices in ESL/ESOL as it relates to administration and student services. 

• Duration: May 2026 through May 2027
• How to register: through myPGS, then search ESOL

ESOL Course for Cat IV Teachers (60 hours)	Section
ESOL for School Administrators and Counselors	42333