AAQEP Accreditation 2022
Standard 3 Aspect A
Preparation programs ensure that candidates, upon completion, are ready to engage in professional practice, to adapt to a variety of professional settings, and to grow throughout their careers. Effective program practices include: consistent offering of coherent curricula; high-quality quality, diverse clinical experiences; dynamic, mutually beneficial partnerships with stakeholders; and comprehensive and transparent quality assurance processes informed by trustworthy evidence. Each aspect of the program is appropriate to its context and to the credential or degree sought.
The Bilingual Authorization Program standards of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing were adopted in 2009. As of July 2021, the Commission is seeking feedback on updated standards that are anticipated to be adopted by the end of 2021. Fresno State’s Bilingual Authorization Program (BAP) aligns strongly with the state standards. The Fresno State Bilingual Authorization Program (BAP) spans the undergraduate Liberal Studies Program and the Multiple Subject Credential Program. Aspiring bilingual/dual immersion teachers are encouraged to begin the BAP coursework as undergraduates and complete the methods course while in our credential program.
The state standards consist of six (6) standards, which are outlined below with a description of how the Fresno State BAP meets each standard.
CCTC Program
Standard 1: Program Design - Program articulates a clear philosophy and purpose towards the preparation of bilingual/dual
immersion teachers.
The Fresno State Bilingual Authorization Program (BAP) addresses standard 1 via its
program philosophy, strong support of candidates, and commitment towards bilingual/dual
immersion education. The BAP embraces and celebrates the bi/multilingualism and bi/multiculturalism
of prek-12 children and families, pre-service teachers, teacher candidates, and in-service
teachers in the Central Valley. We adopt a “grow your own” approach to filling the
increasing need in our Valley for future bilingual/dual immersion teachers. The BAP
approaches the preparation of future teachers from a world languages/dialects and
translanguaging perspective that represents cutting-edge research on emergent bilingual
students. For example, we affirm, validate, and centralize culturally and linguistically
sustaining pedagogy, such as the translanguaging skills of this community and prepare
teacher candidates with this same stance.
Accompanying the embodiment of this philosophy includes qualified faculty who are recognized leaders, researchers, and educators in bilingual education and teacher preparation, as well as ongoing strong partnerships with local school districts. For example, the district leaders from Madera and Fresno Unified sit on the advisory committee of the BAP and offer feedback and support toward mutual interests that meet both program and district goals. The BAP coordinator is also actively involved in three (3) state-wide committees, the California Department of Education Bilingual Coordinators Network (BCN), the California State University (CSU) Asian Bilingual Teacher Education Program Consortium, and the CSU Council on Bilingual Educator Preparation. During their academic careers, candidates combine rigorous coursework and clinical practice placement in the BAP and credential programs that teaches them about working with culturally and linguistically diverse emergent bilingual children and families, the history and present-day context of bilingual/dual immersion theories and teaching strategies, how to lesson plan with clear learning objectives, concise application of state standards, and various forms of assessments.
During the 2021-2022 academic year, the coordinator will continue discussions with the Dean, Associate Dean, and department chair regarding expanding a program model that will provide current in-service teachers the opportunity to pursue and complete the bilingual authorization via a post-credential program through Fresno State’s Continuing and Global Education (CGE).
Standard 2: Assessment of Candidate Competence
The Fresno State Bilingual Authorization Program (BAP) addresses standard 2 via three
(3) pathways to assessing the language competency of candidates along four (4) domains:
reading, writing, speaking and listening. The first is via a local language assessment
administered by the program coordinator and/or faculty. The Spanish local language
assessment is new and will be implemented for the first time during the 2021-2022
academic year. Due to having lost the only Hmong BAP faculty, the goal is that the
Hmong local language assessment will be created and implemented during the 2022-2023
academic year, during which the program anticipates to welcome a new tenure-track
Hmong BAP faculty member. The purpose of the local language assessment is to assist
new BAP students in determining their areas of need along the 4 domains. For example,
it is common for BAP students to feel confident in their speaking and listening skills,
but limited in their reading and writing skills. The local assessment assesses all
four domains and is used to inform students about additional courses they may take
prior to the BAP courses that will help them further develop and strengthen their
skills.
Based on their credentials and expertise, program faculty are qualified to administer the language assessment. During the 2021-2022 academic year, the Spanish local language assessment will be workshopped during committee meetings to get feedback from all stakeholders, such as program faculty, department chairs, credential coordinators, clinical practice coaches, and district representatives. The workshopping of the assessment will ensure that all program faculty and affiliated committee members will be equipped to support and assist the program coordinator with administering the assessment as needed.
In addition to the local language assessment, program candidates will also be assessed along the four (4) domains of listening, writing, reading, and speaking in two (2) courses. In the Spanish pathway, the courses are LEE 137: Language and Literacy in Bilingual Education, which is an advanced language and literacy course, as well as LEE 136: Teaching Content in Spanish, which is a methods course candidates take while they are in the credential program. Both courses are taught exclusively in Spanish and assignments further assess candidates along the 4 domains. For the Hmong pathway, candidates are assessed in LEE 129: Hmong in Bilingual Schools (BCLAD), an advanced language and literacy course, as well as LEE 135: Teaching Content in Hmong, the methods course taken while in the credential program. Additionally, all candidates in the credential program are in student teaching and get assigned a coach who uses a rubric to offer formative assessment on their teaching. An area of priority for the BAP is the increased placement of all candidates in bilingual/dual language classrooms. This is a statewide goal. Relatedly, Fresno State’s program seeks to improve the recruitment of Spanish and Hmong bilingual coaches as well to be able to support candidates in these types of classroom settings. These documented language assessments throughout the program ensure that language proficiency is achieved at a high standard for program graduates.
Standard 3: The Context for Bilingual Education and Bilingualism
The Fresno State Bilingual Authorization Program (BAP) addresses standard 3 primarily
via its coursework. The two Spanish pathway courses that prepare candidates with the
knowledge of the history, policies, programs, philosophical, theoretical, legal, and
research foundations on bilingual/dual immersion education and bilingualism in the
U.S. are LEE 137 and CI 135: Sociopolitical/Cultural Context of Latina/o/x Education. As evidenced by the course learning outcomes, alignment to BAP state standards,
Teacher Performance Expectations (TPEs), and course readings and assignments, candidates
in these courses not only learn about the aforementioned topics, but also examine
and practice via application and witness firsthand the bilingual and bicultural development
of their schoolchildren. Via these courses and supplemental program support structures,
candidates also learn the importance of parental/family engagement and view them as
resources to help promote the multilingual growth of students. During the 2021-2022
academic year, the Hmong LEE 129 course and a new culture of emphasis course will
be developed to align with state standards.
Standard 4: Bilingual Methodology
The Fresno State Bilingual Authorization Program (BAP) addresses standard 4 primarily
via its coursework. The two Spanish pathway courses that prepare candidates with the
understanding of the interrelatedness among the four (4) domains of language--speaking,
listening, reading, and writing--are LEE 137 and LEE 136. The two Hmong pathway courses
that prepare candidates with the understanding of the interrelatedness among the four
(4) domains of language--speaking, listening, reading, and writing--are LEE 129 and
LEE 135. These courses teach candidates the language forms and functions. A simultaneous
goal in these courses is to prepare candidates to develop and implement lesson plans
that adopt appropriate grade level standards, learning objectives, and formal and
summative assessments for a bilingual/dual immersion setting. The courses’ emphasis
on the most current, research-based instructional models, strategies, curriculum and
subsequent assignments allow candidates to practice their application to assess the
suitability and appropriateness for their classroom context.
Standard 5: Culture of Emphasis
The Fresno State Bilingual Authorization Program (BAP) addresses standard 4 via coursework.
For the Spanish pathway, the culture of emphasis course is CI 135, and for the Hmong
pathway, the course will be developed during the 2021-2022 school year to align with
state standards, TPEs and literacy standards. Currently, our Hmong pathway students
have several options from departments outside of the Kremen School of Education and
Human Development that fulfill this requirement. These courses include Anthropology
123: Peoples and Cultures of Southeast Asia, or Linguistics 121: Hmong Language, Culture
and Identity, or Asian American 140: Hmong, Laotian, and Cambodian American Experience.
The culture of emphasis courses provide program candidates with a breath of the historical, sociopolitical, cultural, economic, religious, traditions, roles, statuses, educational experiences, linguistic diversity, socialization, and settlement of Latinx (CI 135) and Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI)/Southeast Asian communities (new course) in native countries and in the U.S. These courses address the cross and intercultural and multilingual interactions of these communications in the U.S., California, and the local contexts.
Standard 6: Assessment of Candidate Language Competence
The Fresno State Bilingual Authorization Program (BAP) addresses standard 6 via its
coursework. As aforementioned above, candidate language proficiency is evaluated thoroughly
along the four (4) domains of reading, writing, speaking and listening in two courses
for each pathway that are taught in the target language. The diversity of various
assignments and quizzes ensures that the program confirms the proficiency of candidates.
The syllabi for these courses have been carefully crafted and/or reviewed to ensure
that they reflect the corresponding passing standard for the California Subject Examinations
for Teachers (CSET) subtest for the bilingual authorization in the state of California.
Table to indicate alignment between curricula state and/or national standards:
CCTC State BAP Standard | Fresno State BAP alignment description |
Standard 1: Program Design |
|
Standard 2: Assessment of Candidate Competence |
|
Standard 3: The Context for Bilingual Education and Bilingualism |
|
Standard 4: Bilingual Methodology |
|
Standard 5: Culture of Emphasis |
|
Standard 6: Assessment of Candidate Language Competence |
|