Teaching Bilingual Learners with Disabilities Certificate

The Certificate in Teaching Bilingual Learners with Disabilities provides post-baccalaureate students with the knowledge and skills in the Professional Standards for Teachers required by the state of Massachusetts to maintain their licensure requirements for serving ELLs with or without special education needs and students with disabilities who are not English learners.

Why should I Earn this Certificate?

As of 2023, nearly 30% of minority students enrolled in U.S. schools speak a language other than English at home. Teachers need to work to ensure equitable outcomes for English language learners (ELLs) and those with disabilities.  

The Teaching Bilingual/English Learners with Disabilities (ELL/SPED) Certificate fits with and extends the current graduate degree programs as most graduate students come for initial licensure, to add licensure, or to meet the state requirement to move from initial licensure to professional licensure.  All these professionals will need additional hours toward any license in serving English learners and students with special education needs across all licensure areas in the state of MA.

Certificate courses that are taken for academic credit may be combined to earn advanced standing in one of Lasell's M.Ed. programs. 

The ELL/SPED certificate program offers four six-week courses that result in Professional Development Points (30 PDPs/CEUs per course or 1.5 academic credits) for educators. These courses are also available for credit as an option for teachers who may wish to earn graduate credit. In this case, there are additional assessments and a different pricing structure for these students.

Wondering what types of classes, you will be taking? Below is a sample of the curriculum provided to get a sense of what your academic path looks like. If you want to see the full curriculum visit the academic catalog.

Requirements For a Successful Learning Experience

• Hardware: computer with speakers and a microphone (webcam is recommended but not required)
• Software: Adobe Acrobat Reader, word processing and presentation tools
• Successful completion of the Online System Check of your computer located on the login page of Canvas.lasell.edu

The ELL/SPED Certificate is offered 100% online.  For more detailed information, you can view the Graduate Course Schedule. As a teacher, you may be interested in either earning your master's degree or satisfying your professional development requirement.  Lasell's classes offer either PDP's or academic credit.  You choose the format best for you.  

Tuition for the ELL/SPED Certificate courses are:

• $500 per course (30 PDPs) - MATSOL, MABE, CAPELL, RITELL member rate
• $700 per course (30 PDPs)         
• $900 per course (1.5 credits)  

Next Class Dates Offered

• ELSP701 - Fundamentals of Bilingual Special Education
  Instructor: Claudia Rinaldi
  Dates:  Oct 23 – Dec 12, 2024

• ELSP702 - Removing Barriers for Classroom Assessment
  Instructor: Sarah Giuliani
  Dates: Jan 14 – Mar 4, 2025
  
  
• ELSP703 - Assessment for Equity and Inclusion
  Instructor: TBA
  Dates: Mar 5 – Apr 29, 2025
  
  
• ELSP704 - Culturally Responsive Individualized Education
  Instructor: Elizabeth Llorca & Diana Morales
  Dates: Jan 14 – Mar 4, 2025

How do I register?

It's easy to register for classes and only will take a few minutes.  Just press the "+" sign next to the courses you want to take and be sure to use the scroll bar to see all the options.  Then click on "checkout," add your payment information and click on "submit."   You will be all set to get started taking classes.  Once you sign up further instructions will be sent to you on how to access the courses. 

Please select the course code, semester, and session. If you are taking the course for Professional Development Points (PDPs) and are a MATSOL, MABE, CAPELL, or RITELL member, please pick the course with "member" on it.      

If you would like to take the course for Professional Development Points (PDPs), please register for the course ending  PDP ($500 or $700 per course depending on MATSOL, MABE, CAPELL, or RITELL membership).      

If you would like to take the course for academic credit, please register for the course ending in Credit. ($900 per course)

International Applicants:

This program is not F-1 eligible, international applicants can only be considered for the online curriculum option.

All International applicants need to submit English equivalency from one of the following: TOEFL scores: minimum required score is 80 (iBT) or IELTS, minimum required score is 6.0; or Pearson PTE Academic minimum score is 53; or Duolingo minimum required score is 105. The English equivalency scores may be waived for international applicants who have earned a bachelor's degree at an accredited college/university in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada.

For additional requirements please visit our International Admission Requirement page.

Materials should be submitted through MyPortal or emailed to gradinfo@lasell.edu:
The Office of Graduate Enrollment
Lasell University
1844 Commonwealth Ave.
Newton, MA 02466

Questions about your application? Call/text us today at 617-243-2400!