Welcome

Welcome to this suite of professional learning materials to support implementation of the Observation Protocol for Teachers of English Learners (OPTEL).

Designed to promote equity in the reclassification process, the OPTEL https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/ml/documents/opteltool.pdf is an observation protocol unanimously approved by the California State Board of Education to support reclassification Criterion 2 (teacher evaluation of English learner [EL] students) and Criterion 3 (parent opinion and consultation). Additionally, the tool was designed to support teachers of EL students in deepening their understanding of their students’ English language proficiency (ELP) skills and areas for growth to inform instruction. The tool also supports educators engaging in conversations with EL students’ parents or guardians about their child’s progress in ELP and readiness for reclassification.

The materials on this Canvas course will support trainers, leaders, and professional learning providers as they implement the OPTEL in their local contexts. The intended audiences are county, district, and school leaders responsible for training and creating systems of support. However, the content in these modules is important for all educators of EL students. Classroom teachers, counselors, and any other educators invested in supporting California’s EL students will find this content valuable.   

This course is a living hub of resources.

To opt in to receive updates about this course, please register here.

These materials were developed by the California Department of Education (CDE) in partnership with the Region 15 Comprehensive Center (R15CC) at WestEd. This project was a collaborative effort that involved the participation of practitioners, researchers, and organizations that are experts in multilingual education. Special gratitude is expressed to:

The Los Angeles County Office of Education for designing the infrastructure and hosting this Canvas course.

The San Joaquin County Office of Education, the Riverside County Office of Education, Imperial County Special Education Local Plan Area, Grossmont Union High School District, Ontario-Montclair School District, and Menlo Park City School District for creating essential content for this Canvas course.

The Regional English Learner Specialists for providing iterative expert feedback on this project.

The Region 4 OPTEL Community of Practice for inspiring this project.

The CDE gratefully acknowledges the following individuals for giving their time, effort, expertise, and passion during the development of these professional learning materials:

Dr. Annie Duong	Arlene Rodriguez
Dr. Christine Snyder	Emily Ingram
Emma Chamberlin	Joann Phillips
Katherine Strach	Lisa Winberg
Lupita Olguin-Rubio	Roberta Gonzalez
Dr. Soomin Chao	Vanessa Lopez

Disclaimer: These optional resources are open source, and they are designed to be adapted by trainers according to their contexts, audiences, and needs. Therefore, the CDE is not responsible for updates or errors in adapted materials. Please direct questions regarding content to OPTEL@cde.ca.gov.

The R15CC is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. However, the contents of these professional learning materials do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and the reader should not assume endorsement by the Federal government. 