Acceptable program designs based upon current theory and successful models already in existence around the country must include equal access to the core curriculum offered to all students. With all of the key components in place, including testing, placement, ELD, academic content and parent involvement, OCR and other monitoring agencies will be more receptive to approving such plans. However, ensuring that ELL’s have equal access to challenging academic content depends, to a large extent, on the existence of skilled teachers who are trained in the use of effective educational practices for these students and content expertise. In planning sound educational programs for ELL’s then, it is important to consider not just the implication of content standards but also the teacher behaviors and instructional approaches that will make language and content accessible.

“Perhaps the most important link in effective mainstream instruction of ELL students is the mainstream teacher. Since both research and logic suggest that teachers who receive appropriate training are more likely to create supportive instructional environments than those without appropriate training are critical to ELL achievement”, (Casteneda, 1993: among others).

“ Specifically, findings from the research argue for instilling in our teachers:

a repertoire of methods and skills for adapting instruction to the needs of ELL students;

alternative strategies for assessing ELL student progress;

ways to incorporate differences in cognitive and learning styles into classroom instruction;

proficiency in assessing instructional materials for comprehensibility and cultural content as well as educational merit;

an understanding of cultural differences and;

an awareness of the contributions of linguistically and culturally diverse peoples to the content area (Chisholm, 1994; Sakash and Rodriguez-Brown, 1995, among others).”

 

Clearly, to establish a sound educational program for ELL students should be the goal for all districts. Appropriate staff development is at the heart of the matter. Without considering this one component the best-laid plans are doomed to fail.