Only action in relation to that vision can create the reality of successful bilingual education programs within all schools. This second area refers to the priority and importance that bilingualism is given at all levels of the school organization. Leadership occurs at all levels. Students provide leadership by aspiring to become bilingual. Parents become community voices and create a support network that sustains and nurtures the valuable role schools play in promoting bilingualism.
Teachers create learning opportunities for children to experience the benefits of bilingualism.
Administrators are the pro-active and informed voices in the community responsible for orchestrating the resources that make bilingualism a reality on a school campus. The absence of leadership on a campus dooms the bilingual program to distress and, ultimately, to failure. It is even worse when the central administration is antagonistic and misinformed about the benefits of the program. Our experience in working with a number of schools reveals that campuses operating in this environment must generate strength from within and must make an extraordinary effort to celebrate publicly their successes with the community. The message is that support from central administration can facilitate and accelerate the success of the bilingual education program.