DCPS Professional Learning offers the following FLDOE-approved endorsement courses free of charge to DCPS teachers.
Gifted Endorsement
Nature and Needs of Gifted Students.
Curriculum and Instructional Strategies for the Gifted.
Guidance and Counseling for the Gifted.
Education of Special Populations of Gifted Students.
Theory and Development of Creativity.
ESOL Endorsement
Cross-Cultural Communications.
Methods of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
ESOL Curriculum and Materials Development.
Applied Linguistics.
ESOL Testing and Evaluation.
Reading Endorsement
Beginning spring term 2025, DCPS Reading Competencies 1-5 must be completed in order. If you have completed competencies out of order, you must complete missing competencies in the order of course progression.
Competency 1: Foundations of Reading Instruction.
Competency 2: Application of Evidence-based Instructional Practices.
Competency 3: Foundations and Applications of Assessment.
Competency 4: Foundations and Applications of Differentiated Instruction.
Competency 5: Demonstration of Accomplishment (Prerequisites: Comps. 1-4. Credit for Comp 5 is only recognized when earned AFTER completion of Comps 1-4.)
ASD Endorsement
Nature and Needs of Students with ASD.
Assistive/Instructional Technology and Alternative/ Augmentative. Communication Systems for Students with ASD.
Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive Behavior Supports for Students with ASD.
Assessment and Diagnosis of Students with ASD.
Field Experiences with Students with ASD.
DCPS Professional Learning offers courses toward endorsement in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Gifted, and Reading free of charge for DCPS teachers. Term dates for the 2024-2025 school year are listed below. Registration takes place in PowerSchool. All courses are offered through Canvas in a hybrid online format. Two in-person meetings will be held during the term; instructors may schedule more. Because of the rigor and time commitment required of these 60-hour graduate-level courses and the need to provide opportunities to all DCPS teachers, one course per term is recommended, and a maximum of two courses per term is permitted.
Register in PowerSchool during the registration period listed below. Under Courses, search "endorsement" and look for DCPS Professional Learning courses.
2024-2025 Endorsement Course Offerings
ESOL, Gifted, and Reading
All courses will be offered for registration each term, unless otherwise noted. Courses will be held based on adequate registration. If a course is canceled one term because of lack of registration, it will be offered again in a later term.
Beginning spring term 2025, DCPS Reading Competencies 1-5 must be completed in order. If you have completed competencies out of order, you must complete missing competencies in the order of course progression.
Term | Course Dates | Registration Open in PowerSchool |
|---|---|---|
Early Fall (limited courses available, with fast track option for ESOL) 2024 | August 5 to September 27 ESOL Fast Track August 5 to September 6 | May 31 to July 29 |
Fall 2024 | October 14 to December 13 | August 5 to October 7 |
Winter 2025 | January 13 to March 7 | October 14 to January 6 |
Spring 2025 | March 31 to May 23 | January 13 to March 24 |
Summer 2025 (limited courses available, all fast-track) | May 27 to June 27 | March 31 to May 19 |
ASD
Term | Course Dates | Registration Open in PowerSchool |
|---|---|---|
Early Fall (limited courses available, with fast-track option) 2024 | August 5 to October 11 | May 31 to July 29 |
Fall 2024 | September 30 to December 13 | August 5 to September 23 |
Winter 2025 | January 13 to March 28 | October 14 to January 6 |
Spring 2025 | March 31 to June 6 | January 13 to March 24 |
Summer 2025 (limited courses available, all fast track) | May 22 to June 27 | March 31 to May 15 |
There are also third-party vendor, fee-based options available. The participant will be responsible for paying for each course taken.
Fee-based Providers:
As of July 1, 2023, only certificates from facilitator-led courses offered by Literacy Solutions will be accepted by DCPS. Non-facilitated courses will not be accepted.
*Course completion certificates from these third-party vendors will need to be provided to the DCPS Professional Learning or Certification Office to be added to your transcript.
Contact Us
Professional Learning - Endorsements
(904) 348-7116
DCPS Certification Office
(904) 390-2376
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