How Do States Measure Up to the Casteñeda Standard? Resources and Program Evaluation

• In Event: 28.089 - MTCC Roundtable Session 10
  In Roundtable Session: 28.089-5 - Space, Identity, and Language: Contexts of Teaching Multilingual Learners

Abstract

This paper examines how states are measuring up to standards set forth by the Castaňeda ruling by reviewing state teacher certification requirements and the ability to evaluate state’s effectiveness in supporting emergent bilingual students. Despite the call for all teachers to be prepared to work with emergent bilinguals, requirements regarding teacher preparation and practices in student data collection remain highly inconsistent. Arguably, the lack of a well-prepared teacher and inadequate student data reporting violates the civil rights of students by denying them of the resources for and evaluation of quality education. In addition, to reviewing state policies and data we also discuss how the unavailability of complete data sources leads to subsequent inequities regarding the education of emergent bilinguals.

Authors

• Christine Montecillo Leider, Boston University

• Michaela Colombo, University of Massachusetts - Lowell