Rochester, MN — The Southeast Service Cooperative’s Project MOMENTUM–an initiative dedicated to offering high-quality professional development opportunities for educators of multilingual learners–is proud to announce the launch of the inaugural cohort for the K-12 English as a Second Language (ESL) Additional Licensure program in partnership with Rochester Public Schools (RPS). The initial cohort began on January 6, 2025, and includes 41 teachers from Minnesota, with 20 educators from RPS leading the way. The program is offered at no cost to educators across Minnesota.
Participants in the K-12 ESL Additional Licensure program will engage in Project MOMENTUM’s rigorous curriculum, combining online coursework, collaborative learning experiences, and hands-on implementation of instructional strategies. The goal is to equip educators with the knowledge and skills to make a lasting impact on multilingual students’ educational journeys.
“This initiative reflects our unwavering commitment to fostering equitable educational opportunities for multilingual learners by providing educators with high-quality, accessible professional development,” said Steve Sallee, Executive Director of the Southeast Service Cooperative. “We believe this program will not only strengthen instructional practices but also positively impact the learning experience of students.”
In 2024, nearly 1 in 10 students across the state were identified as multilingual learners. “Multilingual learners and their families deserve highly qualified educators,” shared Dr. Ashley Karlsson, the Director of Project MOMENTUM. “We are excited to partner with teachers and districts that are resolute in their dedication to excellence in education for all students.”
RPS is equally enthusiastic about the partnership. “Multilingual learners bring a wealth of cultural and linguistic diversity to our schools,” added Natalia Benjamin, Director of Multilingual Learning at RPS. “Project MOMENTUM’s program is an important step in ensuring our educators have the skills and tools to embed language supports in classroom instruction and address all students’ needs to access complex ideas and knowledge.”
Project MOMENTUM is committed to scaling this program to benefit educators and multilingual learners across Minnesota. The program is supported by a National Professional Development grant from the U.S. Department of Education Office of English Language Acquisition (Award #T365Z220119). By offering this licensure program for free, the initiative underscores its mission to eliminate barriers and provide high-quality professional development opportunities for educators to improve instruction for multilingual learners.
For more information about Project MOMENTUM and its programs, please visit www.sscprojectmomentum.org or contact Claudia Tabini at ctabini@ssc.coop. For information about Rochester Public Schools, please visit www.rochesterschools.org or contact Natalia Benjamin for information on multilingual learning at nabenjamin@rochesterschools.org.
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About Rochester Public Schools:
Rochester Public Schools, located in Rochester, Minnesota, has the seventh largest enrollment in Minnesota, covers a large part of Olmsted County, and extends into Wabasha County. The district’s pre-kindergarten through grade 12 program serves approximately 17,500 students in sixteen elementary schools, four middle schools, and three comprehensive high schools. The district also offers various alternative schools, six districtwide programs, and an online school. Rochester Public Schools' educational program is designed to reach all students.
About Southeast Service Cooperative’s Project MOMENTUM:
Project MOMENTUM, an initiative of Southeast Service Cooperative, is dedicated to providing equitable access to free, high-quality professional learning opportunities that improve educational outcomes for multilingual learners. Project MOMENTUM offers online CEU courses, micro-credentials and a K-12 ESL Additional Licensure Program at no cost to educators. This project is supported by the U.S. Department of Education Office of English Language Acquisition (Award #T365Z220119).