Dual-Language Programs

Assuring that very Student, Regardless of His or Her Language Background, Learns at the Same Level, is at the Heart of Contemporary Understandings of Dual-Language Learning.

Making sure that all students, regardless of their language background, achieve the same level of sophistication and learning, is one of the central responsibilitis of our schools. In order to achieve this, however, every district, school, and even individual classrooms and subjects, need to be reviewed and tested regarding how well they are doing for every student. Having the skills, knowledge, and resources to assist students of dual-language backgrounds is a central part of creating this kind of learning equality.

This testing of a school's dual-language efforts must be clear and unbiased. At a minimum, it must take a close look at the following:

Classroom instruction
Student/teacher interactions (especially one-on-one)
Balancing the needs of dual-language and single-language students
Various other social factors
Specific curriculums
Support for teacher professional advancement in the area of dual-language learning
School leadership

The results must be usable for making realistic and tangible changes to an educational program. The results must also help teachers come together as a team to help dual-language students. Part of the success of assessing dual-language programs is the ability of teachers to carry out the finfings. A professional educational consultant can be particularly helpful in this regard: he or she can determine what is best for the students, and then determine whether or not assessments of the current educational program are thorough and scientific. The educational consultant can also bring in the latest research and thinking on ths subject. The educational consultant should follow up by assuring that there is continued progress in dual-language efforts, both for students and teachers.

All of this requires the development of a plan, based on the needs of the particular student population. It requires the ability to carry out the findings of any assessments of the current educational programming. And it it requires the accurate and honest tracking of data on student progress over time.