DESE is ramping up SEI professional learning courses for educators in Vocational Technical programs.
When the Rethinking Equity and Teaching for English Language Learners (RETELL) was getting off the ground in 2012, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) promised to update the original RETELL professional learning requirements to include educators in Chapter 74 Vocational Technical programs.
Five years later, DESE is piloting the full Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement course in two vocational schools with an eye for a larger rollout in 2018. This topic was discussed at the December 2017 Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting. No handouts were prepared but you can watch the video of the meeting online.
DESE has not yet released any proposed amendments to the licensure regulations for vocational technical educators that would make such coursework mandatory. No proposed expansion of the SEI Endorsements for teachers or administrators has been made public at this time.
Check out the MTA RETELL home page for more information on the current SEI Endorsement requirements. The Policy Minute will be providing updates.