The College of Education
 

Bilingual Paraprofessionals in Transition
Teachers for All Children

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Contact Us

BPT Program Office
Campus Box 5300
Normal, IL 61790-5300
Phone: (309) 438-8636

Project Director:
(309) 438-8636

Project Coordinator:
(309) 438-1488

Project Assistant:
(309) 438-2094

Project Advisor:
(309) 438-8768

About the Program

In 2007, the Department of Education's Office of English Language Acquisition awarded Illinois State University a major grant to provide training and certification in elementary education with bilingual approval for school paraprofessionals in the Chicago Public School (CPS) District 299. The project will support recruitment, training, and retention of elementary teachers with bilingual approval which is identified by the Illinois State Board of Education as a critical area of teacher shortage in the state. The ultimate goal of this program is to help to alleviate the shortage of bilingual educators within CPS.

The Bilingual Paraprofessionals in Transition (BPT) grant program is designed as an alternative route to state teacher certification in Illinois.  The participants are educational assistants in public, high-needs schools with diverse student populations.  The primary school district partner is Chicago Public School District 299. 

The primary goal of the BPT grant program is to provide three cohorts of student participants an opportunity to earn a B.S. Ed. Degree in Elementary Education with Bilingual Teacher Endorsement in Illinois for grades K-9.  The first cohort began formal college course work in February 2008.  The last project cohort group is scheduled to complete formal degree study by the summer of 2012.  Participants will serve as teaching interns in partnership schools and agree to serve for a minimum of three years in high needs schools. 

The Bilingual Paraprofessionals in Transition program is made possible by a grant from the United State Department of Education Office of English Language Acquisition. The course of study for bilingual paraprofessionals is provided by the College of Education at Illinois State University in cooperation with Chicago Public School District 299.