WELCOME TO ONBOARDING
Teach For America - Chicago-Northwest Indiana
Pursuing a Bilingual Endorsement (ECE corps members Only)
Overview
Corps members teaching Early Childhood Education have the opportunity to add a Bilingual Endorsement to their license. This endorsement would allow you to teach in classrooms where the majority of students are identified as English Language Learners. This is a HIGHLY sought out endorsement by principals and school leaders as they look to staff their schools. Moreover, a bilingual endorsement on your license strengthens your hiring and career potential, long-term, in Illinois. If you are fluent in Spanish we encourage you to reach out and inquire about this opportunity as you would be filling a vital need in the Chicago ECE landscape.
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How to add a Bilingual Endoresment on your ECE License
Adding a Bilingual Endorsement in Spanish to your ECE license is a 3 part process that includes: (1) A Spanish language content exam, (2) an application to the Illinois State Board of Education, and (3) coursework focused in Bilingual Education at Erikson. The Onboarding team will guide you through everything, step-by-step, you will not be alone in this process! In the interim, see below for high-level specifics regarding adding this endorsement to your ECE license:
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STEP 1
STEP 1
Immediately
Identify if adding the Bilingual Endorsement is right for you:
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Do you speak fluent Spanish? Can you read/write in Spanish?
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Do you want to work specifically with Spanish speaking students and families?
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Are you an ECE corps member? Do you want to add this endorsement to your license?
If the​ answer is "yes" to all the questions above, continue to "Step 2"
Take your Bilingual Exam (TLP 056)
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In order to be eligible for a bilingual endorsement on your license you need to take the ECE 107 exam and the Target Language Proficiency Exam, Spanish (056)
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Unlike your ECE 107 content exam (which can be taken anywhere in the US) the TLP 056 Exam must be taken in Chicago - as it includes a speaking component.
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The TLP 056 exam is only offered March 20th-April 9th and May 15th- May 30th
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If you are not currently located in the Chicagoland area Teach For America will pay for your transportation (plane/train/bus) and lodging to come to the city and take the exam.
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You will work closely with the TFA Onboarding team to register for the TLP 056 exam.
Apply for your Transitional Bilingual License (ELS-TBE):
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Once you have passed your TLP 056 exam you will need to apply for your Transitional Bilingual Educators License (ELS-TBE). This is a temporary Bilingual License that allows you to teach in a Bilingual Classroom while you complete your Coursework at Erikson (see Step 3).
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The Onboarding Team will walk you through how to apply for this license - it is a quick process and just requires: a few steps online, submitting your undergraduate transcript (with degree conferred) and a bit of waiting. There is a $150 cost to register this license, TFA will reimburse you for this cost.
STEP 3
June-Ongoing
Enroll and Complete your 2 years at Erikson Institute
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​After you have you have completed "Step 2" you will hold your Transitional Bilingual Educators License. This is a temporary endorsement (good for only 5 years and non-renewable). In order to make it a permanent, and renewable, endorsement on your license you will need to complete (and graduate from) your Master's program at Erikson Institute.
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There is not additional tuition cost associated with pursuing the permanent Bilingual endorsement!
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The Onboaridng Team will connect you with the Erikson team to talk through any additional questions you may have, or you can look at the Erikson website <HERE>.
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Assets of a Bilingual Endorsement
Highly sought after endorsment by School Leaders in Chicago
No additional tuition cost
Increased hiring potential and long-term job secturity
Licensure registration fee's covered by TFA and opportunity for support with exam fee's available