Supporting ELLs with PBS TeacherLine in Colorado

Destination States States having had over 200% growth in their ELL population since 1994 (as determined by the type of industry these states provide). There are12 identified states meeting this criteria, including Colorado. Included are: Nevada, Nebraska, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Puerto Rico.

ELL Growth rate in Colorado  Colorado total K-12 enrollment growth rate over the last twelve years = 13.37%  Colorado ELL total enrollment growth rate over the last twelve years = %, with some school districts experiencing up to 700% growth.  Colorado has 178 school districts, 156 of which serve a total of 124,000 English Language Learner (ELL) students across the state.

“There is a marked shortage of teachers certified to teach ELLs. Fewer than one in five teachers who currently serve these students are certified to teach them.” -The English Language Learner Guidebook, produced by the Colorado Department of Education, revised April 2008

RMPBS Grant Partners  Colorado Dept. of Ed – Language, Culture and Equity Unit  Centennial BOCES – Northern Colorado region  Northwest BOCES – ski area region with high ELL populations

ELL Course Titles All courses are 15 hours/1 grad credit and take 3 weeks to complete online.  Oral Language Development (PreK-3)  Vocabulary Development (PreK-3)  Reading Fluency (Grades 2-5)  Writing in Grades PreK-3  Assessing Language Development (PreK-3)

Options for Districts/Teachers:  Teachers enroll in individual courses  Teachers complete all five courses from October 2008 – July 2009 to earn a certificate from Adams State in “Enhancing ELL Instruction”  10 or more teachers form a cohort, RMPBS provides private course offerings

Marketing Strategies  CDE contacts, meetings, list servs  Conference presentations/exhibits: CABE, COTESOL, Migrant Ed.  Presentations to BOCES groups  Contacting ELL Coordinators in target districts  Expanding relationships with current district partners

Benefits to RMPBS  New District Partnerships  Increased local course offerings  CDE Partnership  First Certificate offering with Adams State, other topic areas will follow

The Competition  University endorsement/MA programs  McREL, EDC, etc. BUT…TeacherLine is appealing to a general classroom teachers and is the only online option (that we have found).