Immigrant adults in the United States often have limited opportunities to learn English. To address this issue and to strengthen the preparation of future English language teachers, a practicum course offered in a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA TESOL) program in California was modified to engage student…

Research increasingly highlights the significant benefits of multilingual instructional programs for English Learners. Yet, these programs remain relatively rare across California. Regional and local practitioners play an essential role in driving meaningful change by implementing strategies that enhance these programs--ultimately improving the…

This study investigated structural features of a newcomer program housed within a comprehensive high school and language practices among newcomer students and their teachers. Findings indicate efforts to provide newcomer students with "safe spaces," opportunities for language and literacy development in English and Spanish, and access to…

The Instructional Leadership Corps (ILC) is a California collaborative teacher professional learning project in which expert teachers organize local professional development to spark iterative changes in practice. Launched in 2014, ILC is a joint effort of the California Teachers Association (CTA), the National Board Resource Center (NBRC), and…

The Instructional Leadership Corps (ILC) is an innovative professional learning project in which teacher leaders in California collaborate to lead sustainable professional development to support implementation of new student standards within their districts. Over more than 4 years, the ILC has served over 100,000 teachers. The responses of these…

The social nature of language learning and development has been widely acknowledged, as has the importance of family relationships in language learning processes. The role that the first language plays in the literacy development of English language learners (ELLs) and their families is irrefutable. Advocates of family literacy programs have…

The design of California's Structured English Immersion (SEI) program for limited-English-speaking students, which replaced its bilingual education program by state mandate, is described and suggestions for implementation are offered. SEI has several variations, each characterized by (1) extensive use of English and (2) use of…

The Refugee English Language Training (ELT) Task Force, convened by the California State Department of Social Services, collected and reviewed records of refugee ELT programs statewide, conducted site visits and public input meetings, and reviewed literature concerning adult basic education and refugee literacy education. The study and results are…

The experiences of five California school districts in implementing English immersion instruction for all limited-English-speaking students are described and compared. The districts range from populous urban settings to small, isolated rural communities. The first part of the report profiles the five districts, and the second part sets forth three…

The materials include a handbook for development of worksite, job-specific literacy programs and a sample curriculum for vineyard workers in California. The handbook describes the Literacy Line! project, a mobile unit to carry English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) and job-specific literacy instruction to employees at wineries and vineyards in the…

The resource manual is designed to provide educators with information regarding some of the resources available in bilingual education for language minority students. It may also be useful to parents and community members involved in policy formation or interested in being well informed about bilingual education. The first section outlines the…

The first annual supplement to the 1991-1992 directory of two-way bilingual education programs in the United States profiles new and some existing programs in which language-minority and language-majority children are instructed in and through both languages. this volume contains data on 25 programs in Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut,…

A bilingual multicultural education program was implemented to solve the language and communication problems of the non-English and limited-English speaking students at Winton Junior High School. A needs assessment identified broad program goals as well as individual student performance objectives. The program evaluation and follow-up functions…

This paper presents findings from a state-sponsored study of the adult education needs of limited-English-proficient (LEP) adults in California. The findings relate primarily to the situation of the over 2.3-million Spanish-speaking LEP adults, and within this population, to Mexican immigrants. Data were gathered in household surveys in three…

California's framework for second language education describes the state's requirements for development of effective foreign language instruction in the public schools. Chapters address these topics: (1) the economic, civic, and cultural benefits of a foreign language program; (2) characteristics of an effective program, including…