Welcome to Secondary Language Arts
Overview
Our mission is to ensure that all students become proficient in various areas of literacy in order to become successful citizens, and to be prepared for college and career pathways.
Secondary Language Arts Team
Utah Core Standards
The Utah State Board of Education approved new P-12 English Language Arts Standards in April of 2023. These standards identify the essential literacy skills in speaking & listening, reading, and writing.
Core Guides
Grade 6: A Core Guide to the Utah English Language Arts Standards
Grades 7-8: A Core Guide to the Utah English Language Arts Standards
Grades 9-10: A Core Guide to the Utah English Language Arts Standards
Grades 11-12: A Core Guide to the Utah English Language Arts Standards
Secondary Language Arts Team
Educator Endorsements
Update on: Endorsement Courses Announcement for Fall 2025
We have an important update regarding the secondary ELA endorsement classes: The finance committee has voted to move the funding proposal to the full board for final approval. This is a significant step forward and a result of our recent efforts to secure the necessary funding.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this process. We will have a final answer following the full board meeting on October 2nd and will release the official registration and class dates for the Fall 2025 semester after that time.
If you have additional questions or you'd like to be notified when more information is released, please contact Monica Bellenger at monica.bellenger@schools.utah.gov
Endorsement Applications
For information on endorsement options and requirements, please refer to the following:
Endorsement Application and Specifications
Endorsement FAQs
English Language Arts Endorsement Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Secondary Literacy Interventionist (SLI) Endorsement Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Online Endorsement Courses
The Utah State Board of Education, in partnership with Southern Utah University, offers four online courses that meet the requirements for the English Language Arts endorsement. These courses meet the following requirement areas:
|
Course Name |
Requirement Areas Met |
|
Teaching Secondary English Language Arts (ELA) |
3, 7 |
|
Adolescent Literature |
1, 2, 3 |
|
Content Area Literacy Instruction |
7, 9 |
|
Teaching Writing for Adolescents |
5 |
Fall 2025 Semester
Registration: July 28 – August 25, 2025
Course Dates: September 8 – December 5, 2025
- Adolescent Literature
- Teaching Secondary English Language Arts
Spring 2026 Semester
Registration: November 17 - December 29, 2025
Course Dates: January 12 – April 3, 2026
- Content Area Literacy Instruction
- Teaching Writing for Adolescents
Participation Criteria for online English Language Arts endorsement courses:
The endorsement courses are designed specifically for Utah educators seeking an associate or professional level ELA endorsement.
Fees & Official SUU Transcripts
To receive an official transcript with a grade for the course, you will need to pay $69 to SUU ($23 for each credit; these courses are three credits each).
Secondary Language Arts Team
Meetings
Secondary Literacy Director Meetings
2024-2025 Meetings (Virtual)
- Tuesday, September 18, 2024, 1:00-3:00 pm
- Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 1:00-3:00 pm
- Tuesday, January 14, 2025, 1:00-3:00 pm
- Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 1:00-3:00 pm
Message brenda.mcmurtrey@schools.utah.gov for an invite.
Secondary Language Arts Team
Resources
Secondary ELA Newsletters
Coming soon.
UEN Resources
UEN Resources for K-12 Education: English Language Arts
USBE Resources
A Guide for Secondary Educators Supporting Adolescent Readers
Bringing Grammar & Language to Life Through Evidence-Based Practices
Utah's P-12 Literacy Framework
E-mail List
The Utah State Board of Education (USBE), in collaboration with the Utah Education Network (UEN), has created a Secondary ELA Teacher ListServ for all secondary ELA professionals across the state. Subscribe to stay up to date on secondary ELA resources and professional learning opportunities.