While none of the Kansas educational institutions have graduate or teacher training programs that make the top-rated lists by the National Council on Teacher Quality and others, they do boast a great amount of flexibility. Students can pursue a Master of Arts in TESOL or Curriculum and Instruction with or without licensure through a traditional, campus-based program, but they can also take advantage of the fact that distance-education opportunities abound. Some institutions offer courses by webcam, streaming video, online modules, accelerated formats and non-synchronous delivery.
ESL Teacher Certification
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) maintains a Web page dedicated to Teacher Licensure and Accreditation and an Add Additional Areas Web page with policies for adding certificate endorsements.
Alternative Certification Options
KSDE’s Restricted Teaching License Alternative Pathway recruits career-changers who hold a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in a relevant subject area who want to teach in that same subject area in Kansas public schools. It also affords an opportunity for qualified heritage language speakers to teach in their native languages. Participants receive a restricted license while working as paid teachers and completing state requirements for teacher preparation.
Master’s in ESL Programs
Newman University’s School of Education offers an ESOL Licensure Endorsement Program that aligns with KSDE criteria. Emporia State University offers a Master’s Degree in TESOL. Already-certified teachers can apply 15 semester units of this program to earn their add-on TESOL certification. MidAmerica Nazarene University offers a Master’s in Education, ESOL emphasis. Flexibility is at the forefront in this web-based, mobile program that allows students to earn a Master of Arts at an accelerated rate. University of Kansas
offers a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction – Teaching English as a Second Language Program and Endorsement.