ESOL Compliance

In response to the Consent Decree of 1990 and subsequent modifications to the Consent Decree in 2003, the School District of Palm Beach County has established specific training requirements for teachers and staff that work with English Language Learners (ELLs). The training required varies based on the category of employee as outlined below.

ESOL Categories

Category 1
- Classroom teachers of Language Arts, English, Reading, Elementary Education, or ESE
- Requires either the ESOL Endorsement (complete 5 Category 1 ESOL courses or 300 approved ESOL inservice points) or ESOL Certification (pass ESOL Subject Area Exam and complete 120 approved ESOL inservice points)
- Once completed, the ESOL Endorsement or ESOL Certification needs to be added to your teaching certificate
- Needs to be completed within 6 years of the first ESOL Out-of-Compliance notice
Category 2
- Classroom teachers of Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, or Computer Literacy
- Requires 60 approved ESOL inservice points
- Needs to be completed within 1 year of the first ESOL Out-of-Compliance notice
Category 3
- Classroom teachers of Fine Arts or Electives (including Speech-Language Pathologists and Occupational/Physical Therapists)
- Requires 18 approved ESOL inservice points
- Needs to be completed within 1 year of the first ESOL Out-of-Compliance notice
Category 4
- School Administrators and School Counselors
- Requires 60 approved ESOL inservice points
- Needs to be completed within 1 year of the first ESOL Out-of-Compliance notice