There has been much controversy over the effectiveness of bilingual education in helping English language learning (ELL) students to become successful students. One variable overlooked in this literature has been the use of effective instruction in these programs. This investigation compared students in a schoolwide reading program that utilizes research-based practices, Success for All (SF A) and its Spanish counterpart Éxito Para Todos (EPT). Three groups of third-grade students were compared at 8-week intervals throughout the school year: English-speaking students in SF A, ELL (English language learning) students in SF A with ESL (English as a Second Language), and ELL students in EPT. All three groups experienced gains over the school year, with the gap between the EPT and SF A only groups narrowed and no statistically significant differences discovered between the EPT and SF A + ESL groups.

The rapid increase of the English Language Learner (ELL) student population in the United States and their continued lack of achievement means that research must focus on examining differences between the types of second language programs that are available in the U.S. to assist ELLs to learn a second language. The lack of research about teachers’ knowledge and perceptions along with professional development practices in second language programs indicates the need to improve teacher training. This dissertation includes two research studies that followed a mixed-methods approach. Study 1 was conducted with 225 Bilingual and English as Second Language (ESL) teachers in a large suburban school district. Study 2 included 335 Dual Language and ESL teachers from forty school districts in Texas. Study 1 examined Bilingual and ESL teachers’ knowledge of research on bilingual programs, instructional issues for ELLs, general instructional strategies, and second language development amongst bilingual/ESL teachers who work in different language programs. Also, the study considered the professional development opportunities provided to teachers of ELLs. In addition, it examined teachers’ perceptions about administrators, program implementation, program features, school and community, and adequate training along with the degree of program satisfaction. Study 2 investigated whether the program of instruction, grade level, years of experience, types of route to certification, and feelings of pre-service teacher preparation made a difference on Dual Language and ESL teachers’ knowledge and perceptions of second language programs. It also focused on the type of professional development that teachers receive and program strengths and challenges. Findings from both studies indicated significant differences in regards to teachers’ knowledge and perceptions based on a number of variables examined. There were similarities and differences in regards to professional development experiences, program strengths and challenges. Findings indicated that a large number of teachers of ELLs are not receiving adequate training and that bilingual and Dual Language teachers know more than ESL teachers about research on bilingual programs and second language development. These findings have policy implications because they provide information about the type of knowledge and training that teachers are receiving and most importantly the deficits.

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No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) DISSERTACAO FINAL UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL FLUMINENSE.pdf: 2807162 bytes, checksum: ac355a3d3f09e6aa54551992e875bcf0 (MD5) / Prefeitura da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro, Ciep Presidente Agostinho Neto, Rio de Janeiro, RJ / A presente dissertação tem como principais objetivos oferecer uma revisão do conceito de bilinguismo e do tema da educação bilíngue, e apresentar uma análise do Programa Escolas Bilíngues da Prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro. Tal pesquisa se faz necessária em um contexto como o nosso, onde diversas situações de bilinguismo e multilinguismo se dão devido à pluralidade linguística do Brasil. Soma-se a isto o recente fenômeno do aumento na procura e consequente crescimento do número de escolas bilíngues nos centros urbanos do país. No Rio de Janeiro, desde 2013, novas escolas públicas passam a funcionar com programas bilíngues todo ano. Em 2016, já são 15 escolas, entre municipais e estaduais. Estes programas, contudo, carecem, na maioria dos casos, de um planejamento e elaboração mais cuidadosos, sobretudo no que diz respeito ao arcabouço teórico que os sustenta. Esta dissertação se inicia, portanto, justamente acompanhando a evolução do conceito de bilinguismo desde Bloomfield (1933) até García (2009). A revisão bibliográfica nos leva a uma discussão mais concentrada no tema da Educação Bilíngue e suas formas ‘fracas’ e ‘fortes’, seus modelos e tipos, seus fatores condicionantes e a função de se educar ‘bilinguamente’ no século XXI – o referencial teórico é delineado por Baker e Prys Jones (1998), Hornberger (1991), Hamers e Blanc (2000) e García (2009). Ao fim, esboça-se uma visão geral da Educação Bilíngue no Brasil, e apresenta-se uma análise do Programa Escolas Bilíngues da Prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro. Constata-se que, a partir dessa visão geral, como afirmou Pereira (2006), a intenção não é integrar os grupos de minorias socialmente desfavorecidos – como mostra a história da Educação Bilíngue no Brasil. No que concerne ao Programa Escolas Bilíngues, seu projeto não parece ter sido desenvolvido levando em consideração todos os fatores que envolvem uma educação com esse propósito de formação. Além disso, não identificou-se adequação específica para crianças de escolas públicas localizadas, em sua maioria, em comunidades pobres da cidade, como a Pavuna. Espera-se, com esta dissertação, aprofundar o conhecimento acerca do tema, e colaborar para a expansão dos estudos no campo da Educação Bilíngue no país / This dissertation aims to offer a review of the concept of bilingualism and the theme of bilingual education, as well as to present an analysis of the Escolas Bilíngues Program of the City of Rio de Janeiro. Such research is necessary in a context like ours, marked by an enormous linguistic plurality, by various situations of bilingualism and multilingualism. Added to this is the recent phenomenon of an increased demand and consequent growth in the number of bilingual schools in the country’s urban centers. In Rio de Janeiro, since 2013, new public schools have been running bilingual programs every year. By 2016, there are already 15 schools. However, these programs lack, in the majority of the cases, a more careful planning and elaboration, especially with regard to the theoretical framework that underpins them. This dissertation begins, therefore, precisely following the evolution of the concept of bilingualism from Bloomfield (1933) to García (2009). The bibliographical review leads us to a more focused discussion on the theme of Bilingual Education and its ‘weak’ and ‘strong’ forms, their models and types, their conditioning factors and the role of educating ‘bilingually’ in the 21st century – the theoretical framework is outlined by Baker and Prys Jones (1998), Hornberger (1991), Hamers and Blanc (2000), and García (2009). Finally, an overview of Bilingual Education in Brazil is portrayed, and an analysis of the Escolas Bilíngues Program of the City of Rio de Janeiro is presented. It is clear that, from this overview, as stated Pereira (2006), the intention is not to integrate socially disadvantaged minority groups – as the history of Bilingual Education in Brazil shows. Regarding the Escolas Bilíngues Program, its project does not seem to have been developed taking into account all the factors that involves this type of education. Moreover, specific suitability was not identified for the children that attend these public schools, located mostly in poor communities of the city, such as Pavuna. It is hoped, with this dissertation, to deepen the knowledge about the subject, and to collaborate for the promotion of the studies in the field of Bilingual Education in the country