Julie Esparza-Brown, Director
Lynda Pullen, Advisor
Jeff Stevens, Field Coordinator
Rebecca Shorey, Administrative Assistant
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• The BTP Program is a teacher preparation program designed to fill critical shortages of bilingual/bicultural teachers in the Portland Metro and Southwest Washington regions.
• We recruit and prepare bilingual/bicultural instructional assistants for initial teacher licensure along with an ESL/Bilingual Endorsement.
• It is a part-time program offering evening and weekend classes that allows districts to “grow their own” bilingual teachers already familiar with and committed to their local communities.

The Bilingual Teacher Pathway (BTP) Program is a teacher preparation program designed to fill critical shortages of bilingual/bicultural teachers in the Portland and Southwest Washington regions. Working with district partners, we recruit and prepare bilingual/bicultural instructional assistants for initial teacher licensure along with an ESL/Bilingual Endorsement. Our students seek to integrate their cultural wisdom with an academic knowledge base to enhance their skills and services in the instruction of allstudents but particularly those with diverse cultural, linguistic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

• 26,731 Licensed Teachers
• 1,256 Minority Teachers
• 942 Teachers with an ESL Endorsement
• 180 (out of 197 statewide) Title I school districts
• 518 (out of 1,277 schools statewide) Title I schools

Sources: Oregon Report Card 2003-04, available at http://www.ode.state.or.us
Title I Schoiols 2004-05, http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?=95
http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/disadv/2002indicators/oregon/edlite-oregon.html
Teacher Standards and Practices Commission of Oregon

• Students who have little or no college should contact:
  – Paula Hamm, Clackamas Community College, 503-657-6958 x2804
  – Gabe Hunter-Bernstein, Portland Community College, 503-533-2547
• Pathway 2 is for students who have 90 or more college credits.
• Pathway 3 is for students that have a bachelor’s degree.

• The BTP Program is a two to three year part-time teacher licensure program.
• The program consists of 40 core credits, 22 ESL/Bilingual Endorsement credits and either prerequisite or content area credits.
• Students receive a teaching license at either the Elementary (Grades 3-5) or High School Level (9-12).
• Authorization levels may be added for Mid-Level (6-8) and Early Childhood (K-2).
• All students complete the requirements for an ESL/Bilingual Endorsement.

• BTP provides individualized advising throughout the program to assist students in navigating an American university system and licensing requirements.
• Licensure coursework integrates a focus on teaching culturally and linguistically diverse students.
• A unique feature is that students can fulfill their second student teaching experience as an intern (OAR Chapter 584, Division 005 – TSPC (62) "Intern": A student in an approved institution who serves as a teacher under the supervision of the institution and of the school district in order to acquire practical experience in lieu of student teaching. Interns may receive both academic credit from the institution and financial compensation from the school district.
• We are currently in Year 4 of a 5 year grant cycle and our grant tuition support resources are encumbered for existing students.

• Undergraduates (enrolling with a minimum of 90 transferrable credits) to complete their Bachelor’s degree and Initial Teaching License with an ESL/Bilingual Endorsement:
  – Approximate cost = $9,000
• Graduate Students to complete requirements for an Initial Teaching License with an ESL/Bilingual Endorsement:
  – Approximate cost = $16,000
• NOTE: Upon program completion, graduate students need one more course to complete an M.Ed.

"Similar to the work of a master weaver, our work requires an unbounded vision, careful planning, precise execution, and extraordinary tenacity. Educators should weave together a culturally diverse teaching profession in which each thread is distinct yet valued for its unique contribution to the whole."
Jackie Jordan Irvine