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Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions for Individuals Interested in Becoming an ESL Teacher with the Division of Adult and Career Education (NEW HIRES) General Information and Requirements for Individuals Interested in Teaching in ESL/CBET & Citizenship Classes for the Division of Adult and Career Education (New-Hires)
Describe the ESL/Citizenship hiring process briefly!
Topic organizer for this FAQ (go directly to a section of the FAQ) California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) Help with Getting a Credential Do I need to have a teaching credential before I apply to teach ESL or citizenship preparation classes? No. Individuals wishing to teach ESL & Citizenship preparation classes for the Division of Adult and Career Education must either have a qualifying credential or a “C-19” letter from an appropriate teacher preparation program recommending the individual to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing as being eligible to receive a credential, or qualify to receive a credential on the basis of their college coursework. The Division credentialing unit will help individuals obtain a credential if they qualify.
Can I teach ESL or Citizenship for the Division of Adult and Career Education with an Emergency credential or 30-day Substitute Credential? No, the Division of Adult and Career Education does not accept Emergency or 30-day Substitute credentials. Can I teach ESL or Citizenship for the Division of Adult and Career Education with an Intern or Community College Credential? No, the Division of Adult and Career Education does not accept Intern or Community College credentials. Does the Division of Adult and Career Education accept Part-time credentials? No. The Division of Adult and Career Education only accepts Full-time teaching credentials. Can I teach ESL or Citizenship for the Division of Adult and Career Education with a California K-12 teaching credential? In some cases, a K-12 teaching credential qualifies you to teach ESL or Citizenship with the Division. Are there any other documents that I will need before I apply? Yes. Individuals must have an original score card documenting a passing score on the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST).
Does everyone have to pass the CBEST? Basically, yes. Are there any exceptions? Yes, teacher applicants who already have a qualifying credential that was issued prior to February 1, 1983 are exempt. How can I prove that I have taught in a California public school in the last 39 months? If you have taught in an LAUSD school your employment can be verified by the Adult and Career Education Personnel office during your processing. If you taught at a non-LAUSD school, you will need to bring a letter on district letterhead from that school’s principal verifying your employment.
Where can I get more information about the CBEST? CBEST information may be obtained from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing website at http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/CAW-exams.html#CBEST or from the test administrator: National Evaluation Systems, Inc. at www.cbest.nesinc.com. or at (916) 928-4001 Are there any other documents I will need for processing? New teacher candidates and teachers returning after a break in service must provide documentation evidencing authorization of employment in the United States (U.S. Department of Justice). You will also need official transcripts showing all of your university and college experience. Click here for a list of things you need to bring to the processing appointment. Who hires instructors? The principals of the community adult schools, occupational centers, and skills centers are responsible for the selection of teachers. Applicants interested in teaching should contact the principals of schools in the geographic area in which they would accept an assignment. Will the adult school principal interview me? As a practical matter, the initial contact and interview process may be done by the Assistant Principal responsible for ESL/CBET & Citizenship classes at the school. So should I contact the Principal or the Assistant Principal? Send initial correspondence to the Principal with a copy to the Assistant Principal. How do I find out who the Principals and Assistant Principals are? Click here for a list of the telephone numbers and addresses of the schools.
I qualify but I don’t have my credential yet. The Adult ESL/CBET and Citizenship Programs Office will assist you in applying for a credential at the time of your processing. For more information about the credential application process click here.
I’ve been offered a part-time assignment. What is a part-time assignment? Community adult schools, occupational centers, skills centers and employment preparation centers offer ESL classes. The maximum part-time assignment is 18 hours a week. When are most classes offered? Most classes are offered in the evenings Mondays through Thursdays, but there are classes mornings, afternoons, and on Saturdays also. Class offerings vary by school site.
When are teachers hired? Teachers are hired throughout the year. What will be my starting salary? Click here for the Adult Hourly Rate Salary Scale. If you are being hired for the first time in the Division of Adult and Career Education, you will be on Step A. How many hours do I need to teach before I get benefits? You can get partial benefits if you teach 18 hours a week. You do not qualify for benefits if you teach less than 18 hours a week. Partial benefits include medical and hospital for the employee and one dependent. If I am eligible what do I need to do to start getting benefits? If you are eligible, you need to apply for them. Once you apply, they will start on the first day of the month after the month you apply. How do I apply for benefits? You can apply for benefits by calling 1-213-241-4262 or obtain information and forms at http://benefits.lausd.net. To download the application click on the "Publications" link on the left side of the page, and then on the "Health Benefits Enrollment Form 2006" link in the "Forms" section. What if I already have experience teaching in another school district? Will that affect my salary? No I was offered a position. Can I start work immediately? No, you need to be “processed” before you can teach. Do K-12 teachers who work for LAUSD need to be processed? No. If you are a K-12 teacher with a preliminary or clear K-12 credential already and you are already working for the Los Angeles Unified School District, you do not need to be processed. Your assignment will be automatically sent to the Adult and Career Personnel office by the school that offered it to you. What happens during “processing”? “Processing” means checking all of your qualifying documents and making sure you are eligible to start working as a teacher. If all the paperwork is in order then your documents will be submitted to the Payroll office so that you can be paid for your assignment. If you don’t have a qualifying credential, processing includes applying for an Adult Credential with an ESL authorization. Processing also includes getting fingerprints and submitting medical information. I was only offered a position as a substitute. Should I accept it? There are at least two very good reasons to start as a substitute. First, teaching as a substitute gives administrators at the school an opportunity to observe you in the classroom and can lay the groundwork to being offered a part-time position. Secondly, being offered a position as a substitute entitles you to be “processed” and receive an employee number with the Los Angeles Unified School District if you don’t already have one. Once you have an employee number, you can apply for jobs at other schools, and if offered a position, you may begin working immediately.
How many hours can I teach as a substitute teacher? You can teach up to 59 hours per pay period as a substitute teacher. Check with the administrative assistant at the school you are working at to get a payroll calendar.
How can I make an appointment to be processed? After you have been offered an assignment, call (213) 241-3166 to make an appointment for processing. What do I need to bring to the processing appointment? You will need to bring: (Download the following as a checklist to help you prepare for the appointment)
What are the fees for? One fee is for the state of California for the credential itself, and the other is for UCLA which serves as the qualified agency recommending that you be given a credential and which handles your final paperwork.
Can I pay with personal checks? No. You will need to have two postal money orders to pay for the credential. One money order needs to be in the amount of $55 and the other in the amount of $95. The payee should be left blank until it has been determined that you qualify for the credential. What does “appropriate coursework” mean? All candidates who need an Adult Designated Subjects teaching credential with an ESL authorization must have the following coursework:
The Los Angeles Unified School District accepts only one “D” grade for the 20 semester units. All courses must be from an accredited university or college. I already have a Full-Time Adult Designated Subjects Credential with an ESL Authorization issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Do I need to have the English units? Yes, the requirements to teach for the Division of Adult and Career Education include a coursework requirement that is not required by the CCTC. Are there any other fees? There is a fee for fingerprinting. The fees are $32 for “school district fingerprints” and $56 for fingerprints for the State of California. These fees are taken out of your first three paychecks. Which fingerprint fees will I have to pay? All applicants who need fingerprints will pay the $32 fee. Applicants who are also applying for a credential will pay both the $32 fee and the $56 fee. How do I pay the fingerprint fee? The fingerprint fee is divided into three parts and deducted from your first three paychecks.
Do I need to get a physical and a TB test before I can work? Yes. You must complete a physical and a TB test before you can work. You will get the forms you must take to your physician when you are processed. The physician or health provider must fill out those forms. The candidate must send original Certificate of Medical Examination form in a sealed envelope from the medical facility to LAUSD Employee Health Services- 333 S. Beaudry Avenue.-14th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90017. The TB test form only may be sent via fax to (213) 241- 8918 or mailed.
How long does it take after being processed before an applicant can work? Processing can take anywhere from 2 days to 6 weeks, and possibly even longer on occasion. The difference depends in large part on how efficient the applicant is in getting the medical forms returned completely filled out as requested. It also depends on when the fingerprints have been cleared and if the applicant is applying for the credential at the time of processing or not. How will I know when I can begin work? You will receive a credential clearance and an employee card in the mail from the Fingerprint Unit. Where else can I get more information about the hiring process, the salary-step advancement process and other related information for employees? The “Personnel Guide for Teachers” and the “Salary Step Advancement Guide” are available online for download as .pdf files at http://www.adultinstruction.org/personnel/guides/index.htm Download Division of Adult and Career Education Bulletin No. 59 which lists the requirements for Teaching English as a Second Language and Citizenship Program as a .pdf file.
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2001, Los Angeles Unified School District'sDivision of Adult and Career Education and its licensors.__ Courtesy, Technology Support Unit. |
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