We are proud of our excellent programs!
Vision: The vision of the Hispanic/Bilingual Studies office is to produce multilingual, multiliterate, and culturally enriched students who will be productive life-long learners.
Mission: The mission of the Office of Hispanic Education is to provide quality services and support that will assist school sites in meeting the needs of the multicultural students. At BPS, we understand the cultural and linguistic diversity of the students. Our commitment is to implement a bilingual and multicultural curriculum to meet the academic needs of our students.
Identification of English Language Learning students: The Bernalillo Public Schools assesses all students who are identified with a heritage language other than English.
When the student is identified as English Language Learner (ELL) based on the placement assessment, they are provided with an alternative language program consisting of native language instruction and English as a Second Language teaching approaches. The language services are provided by teachers who are endorsed in Bilingual Education when providing instruction in Spanish, and TESOL (Teaching English to students of other languages) when providing instruction in English language arts.
A. Approved programs in the District include:
a. Daily Instruction in the language arts of the primary or home language (minimum of 45 minutes); and/or
b. Modifications of instruction in English language arts that address the developmental, linguistic and academic needs of students and depending on the model; and/or
c. Content area instruction in two languages that utilizes the students language, history, and culture; and/or d. Fine arts instruction in two languages that utilizes the students language, history, culture, arts, and traditions from the community.
B. Personnel must be endorsed and/or certified to provide services:
a. Elementary teachers who are assigned to a bilingual educational setting must possess a teaching license and bilingual education endorsement if teaching in Spanish Language Arts; and TESOL Endorsement if teaching English Language Arts.
b. Elementary teachers who hold a Bilingual Endorsement may teach English Language Arts without holding a TESOL Endorsement.
c. Secondary teachers who are assigned to provide services in a bilingual educational setting must possess a teaching license in the area of expertise and a bilingual education endorsement or an endorsement in Modern and Classical Languages.
d. Content area teachers who teach subjects other than English Language Arts or Spanish Language Arts are highly encouraged to obtain a bilingual and/or TESOL endorsements.
e. In recruiting and/or hiring teachers in any bilingual education setting, principals and human resources shall identify and give priority to applicants with full and complete teaching credentials and endorsements in bilingual education and TESOL as required for an approved bilingual program.
f. The Bernalillo Public Schools reserves the right to recruit and employ teachers with a bilingual endorsement for other content area instruction.
School District Support:
The Bernalillo Public Schools value and recognizes the importance of its unique cultural and language needs and promotes:
A. An annual pay incentive for teachers who are endorsed in Bilingual Education and/or TESOL at a rate not less than $1500 for Bilingual Endorsement and/or $500 for TESOL Endorsement.
B. Financial Support in the form of assisting teachers to pay for tuition and books leading to Bilingual and/or TESOL Endorsements when funding is available and determined on an annual basis.
C. Additional materials and supplies to meet the needs of Dual Language Classrooms.
