Additional Assistance for Teacher Success

Applicants who have applied or demonstrate an interest in applying to the Teacher Certification Program, but who need additional training to meet the requirements for admission, can refer to any of the following options below.

Math and Science Certifications require 24 hours of coursework; If you select the CompositeMath and Science 4-8, you need 12 hours in each subject. We do not accept any grades that are below a C.

Bilingual Applicants must be fluent in both academic English and academic Spanish. In addition, applicants must have the appropriate content knowledge in Math, English, Science, and the Social Studies. Below is a chart that lists the number of college hours expected for bilingual teachers:

Certification/Grade Level / # of Hours for Math / # of Hours for English/Reading / # of Hours for Social Studies / # of Hours for Science
Bilingual/Special Education Generalists Early Childhood – 6th Grade* You must have an additional six hours in any of the four content areas for a total of 24 hours / A minimum of 6 / A minimum of
6 / A minimum of
3 / A minimum of
3
Bilingual Generalists
4th Grade – 8th Grade / 9 / 9 / 6 / 6

The above requirements are designed to assist the future teacher in passing state-mandated tests and have credentials necessary to be hired by local school districts. We have designed specific tracks for remediation that may include various coursework at AustinCommunity College, assessment exams, or various resources. If you received your bachelor’s degree from another country, you must successfully pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with an overall minimum score of 77 and a minimum score of a 26 on the speaking portion. You can register for this test online at: Please submit score report to our program.

_____ Needing Academic Coursework?

You can register for classes at AustinCommunity College to satisfy coursework requirements for admissions. Here are possible recommendations for each of the core areas.

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Math Courses:

Math 1314: College Algebra

Math 1316: Trigonometry

Math 1332: College Mathematics

Math 1350: Mathematics for Middle Grade Teacher Certification I

Math 1351: Mathematics for Middle Grade Teacher Certification II

Math 2372: Functions and Modeling for Secondary Teachers

Math 2412: Precalculus—Functions and Graphs

Math 2413-2415: Calculus I, II, III

English Courses:

ENGL 1301: English Composition I

ENGL 1302: English Composition II

ENGL 2327: American Literature I: Beginnings through the Civil War

ENGL 2328: American Literature II: Civil War to the Present

ENGL 2332: World Literature I: Ancient World through 17th Century

ENGL 2333: World Literature II: 18th Century to the Present

ENGL 2342: Introduction to Literature

Science Courses:

BIOL 1408: Introductory Biology—Unity of Life

BIOL 1409: Introductory Biology—Diversity of Life

BIOL 1406: Cellular and Molecular Biology

BIOL 1407: Structure and Function of Organism

CHEM 1405: Introduction to Chemistry

CHEM 1411: General Chemistry I

CHEM 1412: General Chemistry II

GEO 1305: Environmental Geology –

(Earth Science)

PHYS 1401: General College Physics I

PHYS 1402: General College Physics II

History Courses:

HIST 1301: US History I

HIST 1302: US History II

HIST 2301: History of Texas

HIST 2327: Mexican-American History I

HIST 2328: Mexican-American History II

HIST 2341: Studies in US History—Topic on Latinos in the United States

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What to do When Completing Recommended Track: Submit transcripts displaying appropriate course work to the Teacher Certification Program.

_____ Needing Spanish Improvement?

Due to the high academic levels necessary for success on the Texas Oral Proficiency Test (TOPT) (to be replaced with the Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test in Spanish (BTLPT), applicants must show abilities to satisfactorily perform in Texas classrooms. The teacher certification program has developed a “Pre-test Self-Assessment,” and an “Oral Language Screener” for the TOPT.

Generally speaking, a score of high-intermediate on the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Language Proficiency Exam is a good benchmark for your Spanish ability. You can find information related to this exam at this link::

If more remediation in Spanish is requiredfor admission to the program,individuals seeking to improve their level of academic language proficiency in Spanish in preparation for the TOPT (or BTLPT) should consider the following options:

  1. Those with a high level of oral fluency in Spanish, but who has not studied Spanish in anacademic setting, may find it necessary to refine their grammar, vocabulary, and usage skillsby taking a high-level Spanish credit course (Spanish III or Spanish IV).
  1. Those who have studied Spanish academically but experience difficulty in speaking without long pauses, finding the correct idiom or phrase to express themselves effectively orally, understanding what is said to them in Spanish in professional settings, and/or communicating accurately in writing, should consider enrolling in an intensive immersion program through one or more of the following options:

1.Language study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country

2.Domestic immersion through intensive, daily communication with Spanish-speakers in a work or volunteer environment

3.A daily regimen of view Spanish-language television and film to discuss witha Spanish-speaking tutor on a semi-weekly basis

4. Enrollment in an intensive Spanish program, such as Berlitz, offered in their area

5. Registering for a high-level Spanish credit course (Spanish III or IV or high-level conversation course)

Note: All of these options will provide greatest benefit in conjunction with a thorough review of grammar, vocabulary, and materials studied in previous courses.

What to do when completing recommended track: Once you have completed the recommended remediation, we ask that you take and successfully pass the Texas Oral Proficiency Test (TOPT) in Spanish. We will approve you to take the exam. When the TOPT is no longer available, you must take the more complete BTLPT

_____ Needing English Improvement?

Bilingual teachers must possess skills in English literacy including speaking, reading, and writing. Those who need extra support in acquiring English as a Second Language can choose one or more of the following options. See last two pages of this handout for more information.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Training:

AustinCommunity College will assess and place candidates who need further ESL courses in order to enter/qualify for the program in the future. The process should take an afternoon:

  1. ACC only: Students needing English assistance can call the placement office (223-3135).
  2. Each Friday at noon, staff will run the ESL placement tests (computerized ACT ESL Placement Test), take a writing sample, and interview candidates (writing samples are jury-graded). Request that ESL scores be faxed to 512.223.7030, attn: Teacher Cert.
  3. Based on the scores, students will be placed in the appropriate course/s for them.
  4. Students will need to have documents ready (transcripts, etc.) to apply as an ACC/community college student.

ACC ESL classes include:

DESL 0613 HIGH BEGINNING READING AND VOCABULARY

DESL 0663 HIGH BEGINNING WRITING AND GRAMMAR ESL

DESL 0683 HIGH BEGINNING ORAL COMMUNICATION ESL

DESL 1373 LOW INTERMEDIATE READING AND VOCABULARY ESL

DESL 1383 HIGH INTERMEDIATE READING AND VOCABULARY ESL

DESL 1393 ADVANCED READING AND VOCABULARY SKILLS ESL

DESL 1473 LOW INTERMEDIATE WRITING AND GRAMMAR ESL

DESL 1483 HIGH INTERMEDIATE WRITING AND GRAMMAR ESL

DESL 1493 ADVANCED WRITING AND GRAMMAR ESL

DESL 1503 AMERICAN ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION FOR ADVANCED ESL

DESL 1533 ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND WRITING FOR ESL STUDENTS

DESL 1773 LOW INTERMEDIATE ORAL COMMUNICATION ESL

DESL 1783 HIGH INTERMEDIATE ORAL COMMUNICATION ESL

DESL 1793 ADVANCED ORAL COMMUNICATION ESL

Developmental Skills in English:

If you can speak some English, but need developmental skills and practice in English, you may enroll in any of the following courses at AustinCommunity College:

DEVR 1301: Reading Skills I

DEVR 1301: Reading Skills I

DEVR 0303: Fundamentals of Reading

DEVR 0333: Fundamentals of Vocabulary

DEVR 1303: Reading Skills I with Writing Skills I

DEVR 1313: Reading Skills II Paired with US History I

**Note these course do not count for fulfilling academic course requirements.**

_____ Needing A Visa?Once you have successfully acquired an appropriate Visa contact the COOL Program Office with specific information regarding the Visa type.

At this time, if you are not an American citizen or a permanent resident of the United States, you must hold a current visa to work in the United States (H1B, or a J visa for example) to apply to our program. For further information about Visa applications and requirements, please see the United States Department of State website section on visas:

If, after having read this site you have questions for the State Department regarding a visa, you may wish to contact them with specific questions via this site:

You may also wish to look at the following form, I-140 wish an employer uses to ask permission from the State Department to hire a foreign worker by issuing an H1B visa:

Other sources of immigration law information are available. You may wish to contact an immigration law attorney here in Austin or an organization that specializes in alien employment issues. Several sources of local information on this topic include:

Resources Available to Immigrants

Recursos Disponibles para Inmigrantes

Austin, Texas

Private Practice / Práctica Privada:*

Ana Baroyan
1201 W 45th St.
Austin, TX 78756
Ph. (512) 302-3992
Cynthia Leigh
1005 E. 40th St.
Austin, TX78751
Ph. (512) 452-0201
Dan Kowalski
111 Congress Avenue
Fourth Floor
Austin, TX78701
Ph. (512) 370-3155
Jonathan Tamez
409 E. 53rd. St. #201
Austin, TX78751
Ph. (512) 206-0800 / Jacqueline Watson
1005 E. 40th. St.
Austin, TX78751
Ph. (512) 452-0201
Juan DeKruyff
1602 E. 7th St.
Austin, TX78702
Ph. (512) 912-7771
Karen Crawford
7719 Wood Hollow Dr.
Suite 200
Austin, TX 78731
Ph. (512) 494-8100
Matt Trevena
1711 Rio Grande St.
Austin, TX 78701
Ph. (512) 476-1959 / Nina Jayme Fantl
512 E. Riverside Dr.
Suite 206 A
Austin, TX 78704
Ph. (512) 476-9950
Norma Rocha
2101 IH-35 Suite 209
Austin, TX 78741
Ph. (512) 326-5316
Paul Parsons
704 Rio Grande
Austin, TX 78701
Ph. (512) 477-7887
Wellington Smith
702 Colorado St.
Suite 1.130
Austin, TX78701
Ph. (512) 476-7163

* This list is not inclusive.For detailed information about other attorneys, services and rates, please consult the local AILA directory.

Board of Immigration Appeals Recognized Agencies / Agencias Reconocidas:

Catholic Charities of Central Texas
Office of Immigrant Concerns
1605-A East 7th St.
Austin, TX78702
Ph. (512) 494-0148
Immigration Clinic
University of TexasSchool of Law
727 E. Dean Keeton St.
Austin, TX78705
Ph. (512) 232-1292 / Immigration Counseling and Outreach Services
I.C.O.S.
5555 N. Lamar, Suite K-100
Austin, TX 78751
Ph. (512) 467-9816
Political Asylum Project of Austin (PAPA)
One HighlandCenter
314 E. Highland Mall Blvd., Suite 501
Austin, TX78752
Ph. (512) 478-0546
Texas Rural Legal Aid
2201 Post Road, #104
Austin, TX78704
Ph. (512) 447-7707 / Catholic Charities of San Antonio
2903 West Salinas
San Antonio, TX 78207
Ph. (210) 433-3256

ESL and/or Citizenship Training/Clases de Ingles y/o Ciudadanía:

El Buen Samaritano
7000 Woodhue
Austin, TX 78745
Ph. (512) 439-0700
La FUENTE
2215 E. 2nd Street
Austin, TX 78702
Ph. (512) 477-1099 / Manos de Cristo
1200 Willow Street
Austin, TX78702
Ph. (512) 477-7454
AustinCommunity College
Various locations (varios lugares)
Austin, TX
Ph. (512) 223-7801

For detailed information about other sites and services, please call 211 from any home phone.

Para información sobre otros sitios, llame al 211 de cualquier teléfono de la casa.

Temporary Housing and Shelter / Vivienda y Refugio Temporal:

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ACC Center for Teacher Certification April 2010

Casa Marianella

821 Gunter St.

Austin, TX78702

Ph. (512) 385-5571

Safe Place

Ph. (512) 267-7233

Within your Reach / A su alcance

Laura Gomez-Horton & Sandra Molinari

P.O. Box 7854

Austin, TX78731-7854

Ph. (512) 576-6492

Women’s Shelter

4523 Tannehill Ln.,

Ph. (512) 933-0600

Salvation Army

501 E. 8th. Street

Ph. (512) 476-1111

*register 2:30 – 7:00 pm

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ACC Center for Teacher Certification April 2010

Other Important Numbers / Otros Números Importantes:

Attorney Genera, State of Texas
PO Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711
Ph. (512) 463-4501
Austin Police Department
Immigrant Outreach Program
PO Box 689001
Austin, TX78768
Ph. (512) 974-4734 / Consulate General of Mexico in Austin, TX
800 Brazos Street, Suite 330
Austin, TX78701
Ph. (512) 478-2866
United Way- First Call for Help
Ph. 211
OR (512) 973-9203

ESL Testing

You will take your [free] testing at the Rio Grande Campus (see information below and on the Student Assistance handouts. After completing the tests, the recommendation for further remediation (or no remediation required) will be sent to the Center for Teacher Certification. At that point, you will be contacted regarding your participation in the program.

Location / Counselors / Advisors /

Assessment/Testing Centers

Rio Grande / 223-3126 Annex-156 / 223-3137 Annex-150 / 223-3139 Annex-153

AustinCommunity College, Rio Grande Campus

1212 Rio Grande, Austin, TX

ESL Test Summary

Date: ______

Rio Grande CampusScorer: ______Scorer's Phone: ( )______

Student's Name: ______Student's Phone: (_____)______

ID#: ______

This student has been recommended for ESL Testing for consideration for the Teacher Certification Program at AustinCommunity College, Continuing Education.

Please fax these test results to Center for Teacher Certification, 223.7030

Reading Score /

EXIT

Course Placement

Reading/Vocabulary
/ Course# Synonym# (opt)
(DESL)
Writing Score (computer) /
Essay Score
/
Course Placement
Writing/Grammar / Course# Synonym# (opt)
(DESL)
Listening Score / Oral Score /
Course Placement
Oral Communication / Course# Synonym# (opt)
(DESL)
Comments:

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ACC Center for Teacher Certification April 2010