Project Summary

The Hartford Public School District contracted with The Education Alliance to conduct a formative evaluation of the district's bilingual education, English as a second language and language transition support services programs.

This evaluation provided a point-in-time perspective on the programs and how the district might proceed in improving them for its students and staff. The evaluation included assessment of the integration of second language learners (SLLs) and their programs in overall school structures; the nature of teacher practice in classrooms serving SLLs; the professional development experience and needs of SLL teachers; and the academic growth of students in these programs. Methods included teacher surveys, full-day site visits, classroom observations, and a review of state legislation and policy documents.