English as a Second Language or English as a New Language: Middle Grades (6-8)

A teacher who has primary responsibility for teaching ESL or ENL will be considered “highly qualified” if he or she:

a) holds an elementary, a special K-12, or a secondary certificate with approval for
ESL or ENL (or, for Grades 5 and 6 only, with approval for bilingual education),
or holds a special K-12 certificate endorsed for ESL or ENL, and:

1) has passed the Elementary/Middle Grades test or the content-area test for
either ENL or English Language Arts, or

2) has completed a major or coursework equivalent to a major in English
language arts or the teaching of English as a new language, or

3) holds a master’s or higher degree in English language arts or the teaching
of English as a new language, or

4) holds NBPTS certification or an Illinois master certificate in English
language arts or the teaching of English as a new language, or

5) qualifies with 100 points under the Illinois HOUSSE, if applicable; or

b) for Grade 6 only, holds a transitional bilingual certificate and:

1) has passed the content-area test applicable to the subject taught, and

2) is continuously enrolled in an approved teacher preparation program
applicable to the grade levels served, and

3) is participating in an induction/mentoring program that conforms to the
definition found in the regulations implementing the federal No Child Left
Behind Act of 2001 at 34 CFR 200.56(a)(2)(ii)(A) (2005), and

4) has not exhausted the three-year period permitted under NCLB for
attaining full certification.

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