Letters needed to help solve the Bilingual Teacher Shortage
Currently there is a significant shortage of bilingual teachers and these numbers will only grow as districts begin to implement new and expanded dual and other bilingual programs encouraged by the passage of Proposition 58, The Education for a Global Economy Act. The proposition passed with 73.5% of the electorate voting yes and this new support for multilingual education can only be implemented if there are bilingual teachers prepared to work in dual and other bilingual programs.
Assembly Member Eloise Gomez Reyes is authoring AB 952 (hot link), The Bilingual Teacher Professional Development Program. This legislation would establish consortiums to provide professional development for current bilingual teachers who have been teaching for five years or more in English only programs and for teachers who are native speakers of other languages and who wish to possess a bilingual certification.
In addition, the proposed legislation would encourage recruitment of the state Seal of Biliteracy awardees to enter into the teacher preparation programs and the creation of alternative support programs to increase the pipeline of bilingual teachers.
We need to send a letter (hot link) to Assembly Member Reyes thanking her for authoring this important bill and demonstrating the support she has for moving forward with this initiative.
Click on the link below to send your letter to Assembly Member Reyes. She needs to hear from all of us.
Use the “Forward to a Friend” link below to encourage your colleagues, family and friends to also send a letter.
Send you letter today!