Local Literacy Leadership of Illinois Mandated Native Language Programs for English Language Learner Preschoolers

• In Event: 26.080 - Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: 26.080-15 - Early Childhood: Standards, Policies, and Programs

Abstract

In 2010, Illinois became the first and, to date, the only state to mandate that public school district affiliated preschools establish Transitional Bilingual Education and/or a Transitional Program of Instruction for preschool-age English learners. The goal of this study was to (a) determine how knowledgeable preschool administrators are regarding commonly identified effective leadership practices for creating and implementing high quality native-language programs for ELLs, and (b) understand how efficacious they feel about implementing various aspects of native-language programs for preschool ELLs. A statewide survey of school- and site-level administrators overseeing the day-to-day native-language programming for preschoolers gathered this information in order to inform the development of professional learning opportunities that meet the needs of Illinois preschool administrators.

Author

• Michelle McKenna Shabaker, University of Illinois at Chicago