Curriculum

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.

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

Courses Offered

ELSP701 Fundamentals of Bilingual Special Education

Dates offered:
May 13 - July 2, 2025

This project-based course facilitates an understanding of the integrated historical, theoretical and legal foundations of bilingual and multicultural special education. The focus is to address free and appropriate education for racially, culturally and linguistically diverse children with and without disabilities in the least restrictive environment. Participants will examine components of their system, the alignment to legal mandates, ethical practice and recommendations for addressing equity..

ELSP702 - Removing Barriers for Classroom Assessment

Dates offered:
July 3 – August 25, 2025

The project-based course will address establishing prevention practices in the general education classroom that the teacher, ESL teacher, and special educator can address to support preventively bilingual English language learners. Participants will use an ecological assessment perspective of the context of the education environment, culturally responsive practices, and the connection and application of instructional strategies. Data-informed instructional practices and efficient classroom assessment including a focus on screening and progress monitoring will be addressed.

ELSP703 - Assessment for Equity and Inclusion

Dates offered:
March 5 – April 29, 2025
May 13 – July 2, 2025

This course includes the assessment of bilingual English learners in the areas of language, culture, and social- emotional development. A process for distinguishing between second language indicators and learning disabilities is studied and selected assessment tools are examined and used. Non-discriminatory report writing will be addressed.

ELSP704 - Culturally Responsive Individualized Education

Dates offered:
July 3 – August 25, 2025

This course will address how to implement high-leverage, instructional strategies that can be used across all content areas with a focus on reading comprehension, oracy, and vocabulary. Within the context of a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework, the instruction and intervention design that capitalizes on coherence across the general education, ESL, and special education environments. A critical focus on interventions that highlight the use of active learning, such as Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, growth mindset, and tiered instruction of oral language development will be highlighted

TEACHING BILINGUAL LEARNERS WITH DISABILITIES CERTIFICATE | 2025