Frequently Asked Questions

Project Momentum provides free, high-quality online professional learning opportunities dedicated to improving instruction for multilingual learners. We offer self-paced courses, micro-credentials and instructional resources. For Minnesota educators, we offer a a PELSB-approved pathway for licensed teachers to add an ESL license to their credentials, thereby increasing licensed K-12 ESL teachers in the state. Our objectives include increasing leadership opportunities for multilingual program coordinators, refining professional learning for educators of multilingual learners, and enhancing the capacity of school leaders to manage effective programs for multilingual learners.

Learn more on our About page.

Nothing! Project Momentum is currently funded by a National Professional Development grant (Award #T365Z220119) from the U.S. Department of Education Office of English Language Acquisition. There is no cost to teachers, schools, or districts to participate in grant-funded activities.

Micro-credentials recognize demonstrated competencies in specific learning outcomes, focusing on skills and abilities rather than accumulated learning time. They are:

• Competency-based: Proving skills and abilities through professional practice artifacts.

• Personalized: Tailored to individual learning goals and interests.

• On-demand: Available anytime, allowing learners to progress at their convenience.

• In-demand: Aligned with emerging field needs and practice standards.

• Stackable: Each credential stands alone but can be combined for micro-endorsements.

• Shareable: Qualifications are stored as digital badges, easily shared with employers or educational institutions.

After completing one of our CEU courses, you will receive a certificate from the Southeast Service Cooperative documenting continuing education hours. Your certificate will be available for download within the Proserva system after completing the course.

Finish the five required CEU courses within the pathway and provide evidence of learning by submitting a portfolio of the culminating tasks assigned in each CEU course. Once artifacts are reviewed and approved, you will receive a digital badge that can be shared on email signatures, social media, or professional portfolios. You can request a micro-credential badge here.

If you are part of a school or district that wants to partner with us to support professional learning for staff in your building, or if you are a teacher or school staff member interested in taking one of our micro-credential courses, send us a message on the Contact page, or send us an email.

Our CEU courses are free and available to anyone! While some courses may feature Minnesota-specific data, statutes, policies, and other localized content, they also encompass universal best practices and strategies that are broadly applicable to multilingual learners in any context. Licensure supports are currently only available to Minnesota educators.

Requests for an Out of Field Permission (for teachers that already have a Tier 2, 3, or 4 license in another content area), a Tier 1 license, or a Discretionary Variance need to be initiated by a school district. Project Momentum would not be able to initiate any OFP, Tier 1 or DV request for candidates. 

Being enrolled in a teacher preparation program is one of the criteria that can support these requests, but ultimately, it is up to the school to initiate. This website has additional information about each type of request and the full list of criteria for each. 

You can work with your district at any time to initiate a request, but you would not be able to include enrollment in the Southeast Service Cooperative’s teacher preparation program as one of the request criteria until PELSB approval and program enrollment decisions are finalized.

For those accepted into the program, there will be a process to request credit for prior experience aligning with program requirements.

We are working toward partnership options that would support graduate credit for micro-credentials, but at this time, we do not currently offer any credit options. Any board credits that support lane movement would need to be decided at the local level.

Each micro-credential pathway consists of 5 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) courses, each taking between two and five hours to complete. This includes time spent on direct instruction (e.g., videos, readings) and application activities (e.g., lesson planning, reflection) description.

Additionally, educators will need to spend time finalizing the artifacts created in each course to be submitted in the micro-credential portfolio. On average, earning a micro-credential takes 15-20 hours of learning and application.

Absolutely! Educators are encouraged to earn multiple micro-credentials. There is overlap between the courses required for each pathway, making it easier to earn additional micro-credentials after completing the first one.

Yes! Micro-credentials are awarded as digital badges with embedded metadata that verifies the learning competencies achieved. These badges are:

• Shareable: Educators can display them on email signatures, social media, or professional portfolios.

• Portable: They are recognized by schools, districts, and organizations that value micro-credentials as a form of professional development.

Project Momentum uses Credly to issue digital credentials. Learn more here.