C-BETT

The Collaborative Bilingual Education Teacher Training (C-BETT II) project supported 32 paraprofessionals who were becoming bilingual teachers. One third of the applicants were pursuing a secondary bilingual licensure. The C-BETT Coalition was a partnership between the University of Colorado Denver (UCD), the Community College of Denver (CCD), Metropolitan State College (Metro) and four Colorado school districts. A full range of supports was offered to participants to assure their ability to reach the goal. By the end of the project, participants earned a baccalaureate degree, and an elementary teaching license with a bilingual endorsement or secondary licensure in Spanish or English, and a bilingual endorsement. Those who preferred applied to the master’s program at UCD. The PAR²A Center also provided leadership and assistance to CCD, as they created the Bilingual/ESL emphasis area for their paraprofessional preparation program. The Colorado Community College System has negotiated a statewide Elementary Education articulation agreement with teacher education programs at colleges and universities in the state that paves the way for these participants and others who follow. A mentor teacher program builds the capacity of districts to induct new teachers. Project staff recruit, train and coach experienced teachers to become mentors for the project participants.