Invest in program coordination, instructional coaching, and bilingual paraprofessional career pathways to improve English Learner program design¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The brief recommends that local and regional actors hire additional English Learner program coordination and instructional coaching staff to improve integration of English language development with academic subjects, and expand investment in bilingual paraprofessionals' career growth. It states these investments "would thus establish a strong foundation for a transition to multilingual programs" and are "already well within the scope of existing English Learner program improvement efforts." It also recommends statewide supports facilitate collaboration between districts with similar program settings regardless of geography.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Sufficient coordination and coaching staff positions and career pathways for bilingual paraprofessionals within existing program improvement efforts

Constraints¶

• The brief frames these as strategic focuses within the current system rather than widespread system change

Target Learners¶

• English Learner students in California K–12 schools

Target Learning Goals¶

• Integration of English language development with academic subjects
• Linguistic and academic proficiency in multiple languages

Related Strategies¶

• Expand multilingual workforce data and cross-system strategic planning to grow the supply of bilingual instructors
• Integrate bilingualism into all instructional settings through districtwide professional learning and in-service coaching
• Implement sustained educator development programs including needs assessment, coaching, communities of practice, and experiential learning
• Hire peer family care navigators and build county-level coordinated care systems for English Learner families
• Provide professional learning and a bilingual workforce so preK and early elementary educators can sustain home language and oral language development

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Jacobson, A., Porter, L., Hadley, L., Alcalá, L., & Willis, J. (2025). Strategic and economic analysis of English Learner programs in California: Project brief. WestEd. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED673563