1.  TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages)

A very well organized sites with lots of curricular, practical, professional, and social information for Teachers of English language learners.

What is TESOL? (From TESOL's home page)

TESOL's mission is to develop the expertise of its members and others involved in teaching English to speakers of other languages to help them foster effective communication in diverse settings while respecting individuals' language rights.

To this end:

• TESOL articulates and advances standards for professional preparation and employment, continuing education, and student programs.
• TESOL links groups worldwide to enhance communication among language specialists.
• TESOL produces high-quality programs, services, and products.
• TESOL promotes advocacy to further the profession.

www.tesol.edu/assoc/k12standards/it/01.html
The Standards for the teaching of English as a Second Language for pre K-12 students, as published by TESOL.  This is a very thorough document.

www.tesol.edu/assoc/k12standards/index.html
This is a good articles about the implementation of ESL standards.

www.tesol.edu/advocacy/index.html
This site includes information about advocacy for English language learners.  Here you can subscribe to Electronic Advocacy listserves and find out about workshops for advocating for English language learners.

www.tesol.edu/pubs/index.html
A catalogue of TESOL publications, with title, author, summary, and ordering information for each publication.

www.tesol.edu/pubs/articles/tm0002.html
TESOL's periodical: "Matters Online."  Current articles on the field of ESL.
 

2.  TEXTESOL (Represents teachers of English Language Learners throughout Texas)

This site is divided into five regions within Texas.  Region 4 (Eastern Texas) has the most developed site with its own Mission Statement (see below).  Some of the regions have yet to post their sites.

What is TEXTESOL?

TEXTESOL IV's mission is to develop the expertise of its members and others involved in teaching English to speakers of other languages to help them foster effective communication in diverse settings while respecting individuals' language rights. To this end:

• TEXTESOL IV advances standards for professional preparation and employment, continuing education, and student programs;
• TEXTESOL IV links groups statewide to enhance communication among language specialists;
• TEXTESOL IV promotes high quality programs, services and products through conferences, workshops, and a web site;
• TEXTESOL IV promotes advocacy to further the profession.

3.CATESOL (Represents teachers of English Language Learners throughout California)

This is a good site that communicates TESOL's standards and discusses implications specific to California.  It includes lots of information on Prop 227.

What is CATESOL? (from their home page)

CATESOL's mission is to promote excellence in education for English language learners and a high quality professional environment for their teachers. CATESOL represents teachers of English language learners throughout California and Nevada, at all levels and in all learning environments. CATESOL strives to:

• improve teacher preparation and provide opportunities which further professional expertise
• promote sound, research-based education policy and practices
• increase awareness of the strengths and needs of English language learners
• promote appreciation of diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

4.  The National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE)

The site provides access to "Bilingual Research Journal Online," A NABE publication which focuses on issues in the bilingual education field. Also provides access to "NABE NEWS," the Association's official news magazine. Published articles and research papers provide further links to support and reference materials used in writing.

What is NABE?

NABE is both a professional and advocacy association. Through research, professional development, public education, and legislative advocacy, NABE pursues the implementation of educational policies and practices which ensure equality of educational opportunity for the increasingly diverse students of America.

The National Association for Bilingual Education strives towards fulfilling its mission by:

• Increasing public understanding of the importance of language and culture in education.

• Fostering the establishment of language policies which meet the needs of a pluralistic society in an era of global interdependence and competition.

• Advocating for bilingual education programs which enable all students to become proficient in English and at least one additional language, to meet world-class academic standards, and to attain socio-cultural integration.

• Advocating for language-minority students to have equal opportunities for learning in both the first language and English, maintaining a positive self-concept, and succeeding academically.

• Involving language-minority parents in the process of education and in public policy decisions affecting them and their children through comprehensible communication.

• Advocating for language-minority students to have comprehensive access to instructional technology and promoting the application of technology to teach language and culture.

• Promoting and providing professional development opportunities for educational personnel relating to language and culture.

• Identifying and publicizing the characteristics and outcomes of successful bilingual education programs.

• Promoting and publishing scholarly research related to the education of linguistically and culturally diverse populations.

5.  The Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs

Established in 1974 by Congress, the Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs helps school districts meet their responsibility to provide equal education opportunity to limited English proficient children. Gives examples of funding opportunities, grants schools can apply for.

6.  The National Center for Education in the Inner Cities

The National Center for Education in the Inner Cities includes the article: English Language Learners and Title I Schoolwide Programs as well as several other articles about title one.

7.  Association of California School Administrators (ASCA)

ACSA is an association of school adminstrators that support local districts and schools in the utilization of innovative and alternative enrichment models of instruction for English Language Learners based on research proven effective instructional programs.

8.  The New Mexico Association for Bilingual Education

This New Mexico Bilingual Education Association has an extensive list of links to other English language learner sites including government sites, articles and educational resources.

9.  California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE)

The California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) is dedicated to a vision of bi-literacy for everyone in California.  CABE, working in collaboration with Californians Together, organized a grass root effort to make the State Board of Education to understand the need to revise the English Language Arts Criteria (ELA criteria) to include the English Language Development Standards (ELD standards). The ELA criteria serve as guidelines to publishers in developing textbooks and supplemental materials for students attending California’s public schools.  Without inclusion of the ELD standards in the ELA criteria it is very unlikely that publishers will develop instructional materials that are appropriate to and meet the needs of students who are English learners. This site has newsflash information regarding a variety of bilingual education topics such as Proposition 227, Prop. 26, ELD standards, state legislature decisions, bilingual resources, current events and more.

10.  The Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (MALDEF)

The Mexican American Legal Defense Fund, MALDEF, is a national non-profit organization.  Its mission is to protect and promote the civil rights of the more than 29 million Latinos living in the United States.  This website has information such as press releases regarding the education rights of bilingual Latinos and more.

11.  The National Council Of La Raza

The National Council of La Raza web site offers up to date information regarding the Latino opinion towards bilingual education and access related issues.  At the beginning of each school year, millions of Latino students look forward to embarking on what they hope will be a challenging and interesting educational experience. Unfortunately, there are still some school systems that choose to place unnecessary barriers in their way.
 

Other Resources for ESL Teachers:

Dave's ESL café

One of the most popular sites for ESL teachers, Dave's café offers materials and ideas for the classroom, opportunities for ESL teacher to communicate with one another, among other helpful resources.