English Learner Professional Development requirement for license renewal
All educators holding an elementary, English language arts, math, science or social studies (or any middle-level) endorsement on a professional teacher license that expires on or after Sept. 1, 2025 must complete English Learner Professional Development (ELPD) prior to renewing their license or they will be unable to renew until they have done so. The ELPD training requirement for these endorsement areas was adopted by the State Board of Education in 2018, allowing teachers time to complete the training until their next full renewal period. Anyone who holds an ELPD designation on their credential already meets this requirement.
Important note: This requirement is based solely on the endorsement(s) held; it is not based on the content area the educator is presently teaching or if they are teaching at all. For example, a teacher who also holds both a science and a music endorsement will be required to complete ELPD even if only teaching music. Individuals who are serving in other positions (as a principal, for example) or not presently employed in education and who still wish to renew their teacher license with one of the identified endorsements must meet this requirement.
The ELPD designation requires 45 hours of training focused on the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse learners. Educators may fulfill the requirement via a pre-approved program or individual learning that aligns with the ELPD standards. District leaders with COOL access can download a report of their educators who have attained the designation.
More details for educators needing to complete the ELPD requirement can be found on the ELPD for Educators webpage. Email educator_development@cde.state.co.us with questions.