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The Collaborative Bilingual Education Teacher Training
(C-BETT II) project supports 32 paraprofessionals who are
becoming bilingual teachers. One third of the applicants
are pursuing secondary bilingual licensure. The C-BETT Coalition
is a partnership between the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center (UCDHSC),
the Community College of Denver (CCD), Metropolitan State
College (Metro) and four Colorado school districts. A full
range of supports is offered to participants to assure their
ability to reach the goal. By the end of the project, participants
earn 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 prefer
may apply to the master’s program at UCDHSC. 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.
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