I just learned about another free resource for educators of ELLs.
The Center for Applied Linguisticshas created an online kitfor schools to evaluate how their programs for English-language learners are faring. It doesn’t come with software, but walks school officials through the steps of evaluating a program, with a special emphasis on two-way bilingual programs, in which students who are dominant in English and students who are dominant in a language other than English learn both languages in the same classroom.
The description of the “evaluator’s toolkit” says it is especially intended for people who have no prior knowledge of evaluation. The development of the toolkit seems to me to fit into the culture that’s developing in a lot of schools, spurred by the No Child Left Behind Act, that favors data-based instruction.
I found out about this resource through the Center for Applied Linguistics’ online newsletter. Click hereif you want to subscribe.