Frequently Asked Questions For the English as a Second Language Endorsement Waiver

Experience Verification

1. Do I have to have my current administrator sign the experience verification form or can I use an administrator from my past teaching experience?
   The form must be signed by your current administrator if you are teaching in an English as a Second Language program.

2. If I am not currently teaching ESL, can I have a past administrator verify successful experience in an ESL program?
   Yes.

3. What do I do if my experience is in several districts?
   You may duplicate the experience verification form to have all of your experience verified.

   Administrator Recommendation

4. What should be included in the letter of recommendation from my administrator or evaluator?
   Your administrator should provide examples of your knowledge and skills in teaching English as a Second Language based on his/her evaluation. The administrator may also include examples of working with diverse students and families. The administrator may provide examples of how you create a comfortable environment by lowering the affective filter for ELL students.

   Artifacts

5. What knowledge and skills should be verified in the waiver?
   Consider the information included on the Iowa Department of Education website as guidance as you select your artifacts and provide your reflections. Go to www.iowa.gov/educate. Click on the A to Z guide. Then click on English Language Learners. The handbook, guides and standards are included on this site.

6. What would be some sample artifacts that could be submitted to verify knowledge and skill in ESL methods and curriculum?
   • Grant proposals for the state ELL conference
   • Reports from AEA presentations or classes
   • Portfolio of video and photos with reflections on curriculum
   • Self authored articles on ELL
   • Title II work on family literacy and parent involvement
   • Verification of teaching parents in addition to students
   • Testimonials from peers, aides, parents, students
7. What would be a sample artifact to verify knowledge of linguistics?
   • Added a foreign language endorsement to teaching license
   • World travel with verification of how used linguistics
   • Peace Corps volunteer
   • Church mission work
   • Taught English on the postsecondary level
   • Examples of success in the classroom

8. What would be a sample artifact to verify knowledge of cultural and linguistic diversity?
   • Volunteering to serve populations such as refugee services or Homes of Oakridge
   • Work related experience with other cultures, i.e. interpreter
   • Reflections on current ELL legislation and its impact
   • Immigration activist
   • Cultural competence-reflect on what you would do differently to work with students from Afghanistan than students from Mexico
9. Can I use the same artifact to verify knowledge and skill of more than one area?
   Yes, you may use the same artifact but you should include a one page reflection for each area to verify how this artifact supports verification of your knowledge and skill in that particular area.

10. Can I send in staff development transcripts and artifacts to verify meeting one criterion?
    No, artifacts are only submitted in lieu of staff development course work in an area.

11. Can I send in all of the curriculum I developed to verify my knowledge and skills?
    No, send in sample artifacts. Inundating the committee with paper is not necessary. Include a one page reflection indicating how this sample artifact verifies your knowledge and skill.
12. What is a well written reflection?
    • Utilize descriptive writing which enumerates critical features of the artifact
    • Reference artifact and context
    • Demonstrate knowledge and skill in area
    • Explain your involvement
    • Analyze your knowledge and skills (refer to knowledge and skills in question #6
    • Verify how artifact supports current theories and models of ESL programs

    General Information

13. Can all of the teachers in the ESL program at our school send in one packet of information?
    No, each teacher must submit his/her own waiver. You may work together on the materials that will be submitted but each teacher’s waiver is reviewed on an individual basis.

14. When do I have to submit the waiver?
    The waivers may be submitted until June 1, 2012.

15. Can I resubmit a waiver if the information that I send in the first time is incomplete or not approved?
    No. If your waiver is not fully approved, then you will be informed of the deficiencies you will need to complete in order to add the endorsement.

16. Who is the contact person at the Board of Educational Examiners for waiver questions?
    Please contact Fred Kinne at 515.281.3587 or fred.kinne@iowa.gov