High Needs Endorsement Stipend ESL/Bilingual

The Memorandum of Understanding "High Needs ESL and/or Bilingual Endorsement," dated April 29th, 2024, established stipends for eligible certified staff members who are issued specific endorsements. Please see the instructions below to learn how to apply for this stipend. The full text of the Memorandum of Understanding is also attached to this article.

The Memorandum of Understanding provides for the following:

"Certified Teachers who have completed the coursework to obtain their ESL [/Bilingual] Endorsement but have not registered the endorsement with the Regional Office of Education will have until June 30, 2027 to do so. Certified Teachers who present evidence of a newly registered ESL [/Bilingual] Endorsement will be paid a one time stipend of $1,500.

"Certified Teachers who are already in the MA+30 lane on the salary schedule and chose to obtain their ESL [/Bilingual] endorsement will be paid a one time stipend of $3,000 once they provide evidence of the endorsement being registered with the Regional Office of Education."

Steps for Requesting the High Needs ESL/Bilingual Endorsement Stipend

ISBE issues one of the following endorsements on your PEL (Professional Educator License): Bilingual Education Teacher (Spanish); English as a Second Language
Employee must complete the Skyward online form "High Needs ESL/Bilingual Endorsement Stipend" to notify the district and request the stipend
To complete the form:
1. Log in to Skyward Employee Access at https://skyward.iscorp.com/Roundlake16ILBusSTS/
2. From the Employee Access home page, click on the tile named "High Needs ESL/Bilingual Endorsement Stipend."
3. Follow the instructions in the online form.
Once the employee submits the form, HR will be notified. The employee will also receive notifications upon submission of the form and again when the form is approved or denied.
HR will review the form. If the form was completed incorrectly or the endorsement has not been issued by ISBE yet, HR will deny the form and reach out to the employee with the reason. If the form is completed correctly and the endorsement was issued, HR will enter the updated endorsement into the employee's Skyward record and schedule the employee to receive the stipend at the next appropriate time.
There are two opportunities annually to receive the stipend payment. For employees who submit their request prior to midnight on September 1st annually, payment will be issued on the September 15th payroll. For employees who submit their request prior to midnight on January 15th, payment will be issued on the January 31st payroll.