Over the last decade there has been a dramatic increase in the number of English Language Learners (ELLs) enrolled in public schools in New York State. In response to this increasing need to provide quality education to all students, the Board of Regents made significant changes to Commissioner Regulations Part 154 in September 2014, changing the legal requirements to educating ELLs. The Capital District Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network (RBERN) – based at Questar III BOCES – helps school districts, students and their families navigate these changes and other challenges facing ELLs.
The Capital District RBERN is one of eight in New York State that provides services to districts who have or who will have ELLs enrolled. The RBERN helps educators provide culturally responsive instruction while adhering to state regulations. It also works directly with parents, and students through the Puerto Rican Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (PRHYLI), which is also coordinated by Questar III.
“With the changing demographics comes an increased need for support to provide every child with a quality education beginning at an early age,” said Gladys Cruz, Chief Operating Officer/Deputy Superintendent at Questar III BOCES. “Through the RBERN, educators gain a better understanding of educating English Language Learners and as a result students have greater opportunities to be academically successful and prepared for college and careers.”
The RBERN provides professional development opportunities in the form of embedded coaching, and local and regional conferences, some of which feature national speakers. This will become especially useful for districts during the 2015-16 school year when the changes to CR-154 take effect. Fifteen percent of the required professional development for all teachers will be specific to educating ELLs. Fifty percent of the professional development Bilingual Education and English as a Second Language Language/ESL teachers must be specific to educating ELLs.
Hudson CSD Coordinator of School Improvement April Prestipino said her district utilizes the services of RBERN through embedded coaching as well as professional development for groups during Superintendents’ Conference Days and their summer institute. Teachers also reach out to the RBERN on their own.
The RBERN serves as a liaison between educators and the New York State Education Department. Since the new regulations were announced, the RBERN has been busy sharing the CR Part 154 changes and providing feedback to SED.
April Mlambi is a 4th grade co-teacher and middle school ESL teacher at South Colonie CSD. She said the RBERN staff are accessible and ready to listen to their needs.
“What’s so wonderful about the RBERN is that they come to us and see our challenges on the ground level,” she said. “They advocate on our behalf and have the ear of those in power in a way that we simply do not.”
The RBERN holds monthly meetings with ESL coordinators as well as focus groups with teachers to provide that feedback to SED. Mlambi said the focus groups allows ESL teachers – who are often isolated in their buildings – to bounce ideas off one another.
“The focus groups have been tremendously helpful in providing a forum to hear other educators’ challenges as well as to disseminate information,” said Mlambi.
In addition, the RBERN is part of the School Improvement Office at Questar III BOCES, home to more than 20 content specialists.
“We are constantly interacting with those content specialists which has afforded us to go beyond what we’re already doing and tap into their knowledge on those subjects,” said RBERN Resource Specialist Xrystya Szyjka. “ELLs take the same assessments as everyone else, so we’re all working on the same standards with the same goals.”
For additional information, visit the RBERN website at rbern.org. You can also sign up for the monthly e-newsletter full of announcements regarding professional development opportunities, SED updates, instructional tips and more.
