Research has consistently supported the long-term benefits of bilingual education for English Learners. At the same time, we face grave challenges including the Unz Initiative and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) that have made it more difficult to provide primary language instruction to English learners. Despite these challenges, Dual Language Immersion programs are increasing in number all over California in response to the needs of our communities.

Our commitment to bilingual teacher preparation must be renewed in order to counter the devastating effects of these policies. In order to unite our efforts across the state, bilingual teacher preparation faculty must band together to speak as one voice, to share our expertise, and to support each other in these challenging times.

The mission of the California Association for Bilingual Teacher Educators is as follows:

• To unify the voice of higher education faculty in Bilingual Education and Dual Language Instruction in matters related to the education of minority and language minority children;
• To represent the voice of Bilingual Education and Dual Language Instruction faculty in higher education in the area of minority and language minority education;
• To advocate on behalf of the education of minority and language minority children;
• To work for the improvement of Bilingual Education and Dual Language teacher preparation.