English Language Acquisition (ELA) Staff Development
ELA Teacher Training Schedules
The new schedules have been posted on ELA's web site.
The ELA Program consists of what used to be called the Bilingual and the English as a Second Language (ESL) Programs. Teachers are classified as either ELA-S or ELA-E teachers.
ELA-S teachers may instruct in Spanish or in English
- In order for a teacher to be eligible for assignment to an ELA-S classroom, the teacher must first pass the Spanish Language Proficiency Test and be state endorsed to teach linguistically different students or have completed the 150 hours of ELA training.
ELA-E teachers may only instruct in English
- In order for a teacher to be eligible for assignment to an ELA-E classroom, the teacher must be state endorsed to teach linguistically different students or have completed the 150 hours of ELA training.
ELA-S Teacher Stipend
The following are guidelines for the designation of ELA-S teaching positions in the English Language Acquisition Program (ELAP) effective September 1, 1999. For the purpose of identifying ELA-S teachers eligible for the ELA Program ELA-S stipend, the following will be considered:
- ELA-S teachers include elementary ELA-S classroom teachers, elementary ESL teachers required to possess Spanish language skills, secondary teachers teaching science, social studies, or mathematics courses designated as ELA-S and one (1) high school or middle school counselor per program school;
- The Director of the English Language Acquisition Program will designate the number of ELA-S classrooms in a school;
- ELA-E, secondary teachers teaching only language arts or ESL courses, ELA-T (transition) and ELA-I teachers are not eligible to receive a stipend.
Designated ELA-S teachers must be fully qualified by October 1st of the stipend year to be eligible to receive the ELA Program stipend. Fully qualified ELA-S teachers are individuals who:
- Hold a valid Colorado teaching license (Teachers with Emergency and Alternative Authorizations are not eligible);
- Have passed the New Mexico Four Skills Test or Spanish Language Proficiency Exam; and
- Have completed the 150 hours of ELA training or hold a State of Colorado Linguistically Different endorsement.
ELA-S teachers must continue to teach in a designated ELA-S position the succeeding year to be eligible for the stipend.
- On completion of one full year of teaching in an ELA-S position a $500.00 stipend is to be received by November 1st of the following school year.
- On completion of the second consecutive year and every year thereafter of teaching in an ELA-S position, an $800.00 stipend is to be received by November 1st of the following school year.