Bilingual Authorization
Stanford Graduate School of Education has a long history of leadership in the education of English learners. The Spanish bilingual authorization pathway supports STEP’s mission of cultivating teachers who understand the diverse needs of students, and is open to STEP elementary teacher candidates.
What is bilingual authorization?
California bilingual authorization prepares teachers to meet the needs of English learners in all instructional settings, including bilingual programs. See our guiding statement which outlines the philosophy, purpose, and rationale for STEP’s bilingual authorization program.
Why pursue bilingual authorization?
For STEP elementary candidates interested in teaching in bilingual settings, the authorization allows a teacher to instruct in Spanish and English. Teachers with a bilingual authorization are highly sought after by school districts because of their special preparation and their ability to communicate with Spanish-speaking students and their families.
What does the STEP pathway involve?
STEP provides specialized experiences and content for bilingual authorization candidates with a focus on the curriculum and instruction, programmatic, linguistic, cultural, ethno-historic, and legal aspects of teaching in bilingual settings. This pathway has a strong emphasis on content-specific pedagogy and on teaching culturally and linguistically diverse learners. Candidates who pursue this option complete all the regular requirements for the multiple subject credential. Upon graduation, candidates will be simultaneously recommended for a Multiple Subject credential and a Bilingual Authorization in Spanish.
Coursework
Teacher candidates in the bilingual authorization pathway take Methods and Materials in Bilingual Classrooms, a course taught primarily in Spanish that lays the groundwork for teaching in a Spanish bilingual classroom. To learn more about the course and view the syllabus, visit the program information page.
Placement
Bilingual authorization candidates complete their fieldwork in bilingual classrooms alongside a credentialed and authorized cooperating teacher. Candidates have the opportunity to teach both in English and Spanish, and to participate in both dual immersion and transitional models of bilingual education. Candidates are also assigned a university supervisor with expertise in bilingual education, who supports the candidate in both field placement and language development, as needed.
What is bilingual authorization?
California bilingual authorization prepares teachers to meet the needs of English learners in all instructional settings, including bilingual programs.
Contact us
For more information about the bilingual authorization pathway in STEP, contact Michaela Ruiz, STEP Student Services Officer, at maruiz@stanford.edu.
