The RETELL Initiative: Rethinking Equity & Teaching for English Language Learners

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1 Strengthening English Language Learner Education in Massachusetts The RETELL Initiative: Rethinking Equity & Teaching for English Language Learners Adapted from DESE presentation to MASS, 7/11/12

2 Overview: English language learners (ELLs) are our fastest growing population of students. Strengthening teaching and learning for ELLs is key to closing the proficiency gap, which is wide for ELLs in the state In 2002, Massachusetts voters adopted Question 2 which shifted ELL teaching and learning from bilingual education to sheltered English immersion (SEI) Equal access to education, despite language, is protected under the Constitution 2

3 Pre-existing ELL Model All ELL students received English language development instruction from an ESL teacher AND sheltered English immersion [SEI] instruction in the content areas All content area teachers K-12 were expected (but not required) to take Category trainings in providing SEI instruction 3

4 The RETELL Initiative Closing the proficiency gap for ELLs requires a more comprehensive multifaceted approach (RETELL) designed to provide ELLs access to effective instruction The components of RETELL include: SEI Endorsement Course Ongoing Professional Development and Growth More Robust ELL Standards and Assessments [WIDA and ACCESS] 4

5 Establishing Expectations and Goals for ELL Achievement and Growth under the New Educator Evaluation System School and District Accountability for Closing Achievement Gaps 5

6 SEI Regulations: Major Provisions 1. By July 1, 2014, all prospective core academic teachers must hold an SEI endorsement earned through their teacher preparation programs. 2. As of July 1, 2016, all core academic teachers of ELLs (SEI teachers) and their supervisors must hold an SEI endorsement. 3. This endorsement may be earned by completing the SEI endorsement course, certain more rigorous graduate-level training, or passing an SEI MTEL test available in Spring

7 The SEI Endorsement Course The course has been piloted and is now being rolled out to high-incidence, low-performance districts. The DOJ is still heavily involved. The course is 45 hours (3 credits). There are 30 graded assignments. It is much more intensive than the original Category trainings. DESE is funding the SEI Endorsement trainers for the first three years. 7

8 SEI Administrator Course DESE has developed guidelines for how to evaluate SEI instruction (supplement to the teacher rubric). All administrators who supervise SEI teachers must complete the SEI Administrator Endorsement, a shorter course being piloted in the fall. 8

9 When last we met Uncertainty New Professional Development (RETELL) All core academic teachers must earn an SEI endorsement, but we don t know when we will have access to the course in Belmont New ELL Standards (WIDA) We are expected to begin implementation of aligned curricula in September 2012, but do not yet have training in the new standards New ELL Assessment (ACCESS) All ELL students will be tested on the new WIDA standards in January of 2013

10 Where we stand now New Professional Development (RETELL) Two BPS ELE staff members have certified as RETELL trainers We are in the process of identifying between 87 and 102 BPS core academic teachers who will earn an ELL endorsement to become SEI teachers over the next three years Our first cohort of 34 teachers will begin training this fall