They need to be trained in language development and how to help students develop their own language skills, even if their native language is not English. Further, teachers need to be skilled in the administration of the multiple assessment tools available and the appropriate uses of their results. Test results, in the hands of a well trained teacher, are one source of info that can be used to improve instruction not only at the individual level, but also for the entire classroom. Finally, teachers need to be trained to communicate test results and other assessment outcomes and their implications for instruction to parents in a meaningful way. Comprehensive Centers can play a key function in the professional development of bilingual teachers.
Every year there are new teaching methodologies and assessments available to teachers.
However, classroom instructors rarely have the time to seek out information that could be most helpful to them. Comprehensive Centers can provide the ongoing professional development that is so desperately needed in the field of bilingual education. From information on the progress of state standards and assessments to how develop a classroom strategy to meet the needs of newly arrived immigrant children, the Centers are in a unique position to provide the most relevant information to the classroom teacher. Centers can also help school administrators review their staffing plans and the use of technologies to augment their efforts to build effective bilingual education programs. Comprehensive Centers should increased funding and greatly expanded staff to meet the growing needs of America's schools generally and the specific professional development needs of bilingual educators.