Additional Certification in English as a Second Language/Bilingual Teacher Course of Study
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| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2026-09-01 | - |
| 2027-03-01 | - |
| 2027-06-01 | - |
| 2027-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
Additional Certification in English as a Second Language/Bilingual Teacher
The School of Education offers a Course of Study that enables current Delaware teachers to prepare for an additional certification as a Teacher of English Learners or a Bilingual Teacher.
Course of Study
The Additional Certification in ESOL/Bilingual Teacher (ACE) program requires participants to take 5 classes, each earning 3 graduate credits, and can be completed in 12-18 months. Online participation is possible in all classes.
ACE Courses
- EDUC 672: Teaching English as a Second Language (3 credits)
- EDUC 740: Literacy Instruction for English Language Learners (3 credits)
- LING 676/699: Second Language Acquisition & Bilingualism (3 credits)
- LING 677: The Structure of English (3 credits)
- LLCU 624: Second Language Testing (3 credits)
Enrollment
The ACE program welcomes teachers and specialists from all Delaware counties, districts, and charters. Participants must have at least an undergraduate degree and a teaching license.
Tuition and Financial Support
Tuition
- Tuition for the 2024/25 school year is $844/credit, or $2532 per course plus fees.
- Tuition arrangements must be made before the start of the course.
- Payment plans and credit-card payments are available.
Financial Support
- Teachers who hold emergency certification as a Teacher of English Learners can apply for the State Critical Needs Scholarship, offering partial reimbursement up to $1,300 for each of two courses taken during the academic year.
- Some school districts have tuition reimbursement funds or have made special arrangements to support ACE teachers.
- Additional professional-development funding may be available from the school or district.
ACE Schedule
The five required courses are expected to be offered on a specific schedule in 2025 and 2026. ACE candidates may start in any session or semester but should plan to take EDUC 672 or LING 676 first.
Course Schedule
| Course | Term | Format |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 672 Methods of Teaching ESL | Fall | In-person / synchronous online |
| LING 677 Structure of English | Fall | In-person (online by request), Blended online |
| EDUC 740 Literacy for English Learners | Spring | In-person, Asynchronous |
| LING 676 Second Language Acquisition & Bilingualism | Spring | In-person (online by request), Blended online |
| LLCU 624 L2 Testing | Fall, Winter | In-person, Online (synchronous), Online (blended) |
Test Scoring
The Delaware Department of Education requires a passing score of 149 on the Praxis II ESOL test (5362) for certification as a Teacher of English Learners. Bilingual teachers do not need to take Praxis but must demonstrate proficiency in their non-English language and hold another subject or area certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Previous Courses
If you have already taken one or more of the required courses at UD or another university, please contact the Delaware Department of Education's Licensing Office to confirm whether your previous courses will count towards certification.
Initial Certification
ACE is an additional certification program for currently licensed Delaware teachers. If you are a paraprofessional or tutor without a current Delaware K-12 teaching license, you are not eligible for ACE.
Funding and Eligibility
- Teachers who teach in a Delaware public school but live outside the state can apply to ACE and receive funding.
- Teachers who work in private or parochial schools in Delaware or in a different state can apply to ACE.
- Teachers who work in a charter school can apply to ACE and are eligible for the same funding.