K-12 ESL Licensure Program

The ESL Licensure Pathway is designed to be completed in one year. Each cohort will complete eight courses within a set timeframe, including seven content courses and one seminar course that runs the length of the program and includes an 80-hour practicum in an ESL setting.

• Seminar Course

• Language and Society

• Linguistics and Language Education 

• Differentiation for Multilingual Learners

• Multimodal Language and Literacy Instruction

• Integrating Language and Content

• Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Assessment Practices 

• Student, Family, and Community Engagement 

• ESL Practicum

Teachers holding a current Tier 3 or Tier 4 Minnesota Teaching License who meet the entrance criteria (detailed below) are eligible to apply to the K-12 ESL Additional Licensure Pathway Program. If you are unsure about your eligibility, please contact us. 

• Support from your administrator 

• Evidence of additional language study (e.g., high school or college world language; ESL; community language classes, etc.)

• Evidence of English proficiency (e.g., native English speaker; degree from an English-speaking university;  TOEFL score, etc.)

• Evidence of 100 hours working with children (e.g. resume, etc.)

Is this the right path for you? Find out more!

Applications for the Fall 2026 cohort are now closed.

We recognize the disproportionalities in teacher representation in Minnesota, and we encourage bilingual teachers, teachers of color, and Indigenous educators to apply. The Southeast Service Cooperative K-12 Additional License Program does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, disability, or age. We will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants who need them for medical or religious reasons, as required by law.

The cost of the additional licensure program for the 26-27 school year is $7,500 for individuals plus applicable fees. District pricing is available for partner districts wishing to sponsor a cohort. Limited scholarships may be available to individuals or district partners based on availability of grant funds.

Some schools and districts may have funding available to support professional learning opportunities like this. We encourage interested candidates to explore these options locally. If helpful, we are happy to provide a sample letter you can use to share information about the program with your school or district leadership. Please contact Claudia at ctabini@ssc.coop to request a sample letter.

Program costs will be updated on an annual basis and communicated to prospective candidates through eligibility and enrollment materials.

·       June 4th, 2026—Administrator letters of support due

·       June 8, 2026—Candidates notified of selection status

·       July 13, 2026—Acceptance & enrollment documents due

·       July 14, 2026—Waitlist candidates notified

·       July 28, 2026—Waitlist acceptance & enrollment documents due

·       August 24, 2026—Orientation course due (sent when documents received & approved)

·       September 14, 2026—Licensure Seminar Course Module 1 and Language & Society Course start

·       August 13th, 2027—Program Completion & Graduation Celebration