BE-ACTT: Bilingual Educators ACTT Pathway

The Bilingual Educators ACTT (BE-ACTT) pathway was a specialized program within Boston Public Schools designed to help bilingual paraprofessionals become certified bilingual teachers. Launched in School Year 2021–22, BE-ACTT addressed a critical need: the district required more qualified bilingual educators to serve its linguistically diverse student body, and many of the best candidates were already working in BPS schools.

Who Qualified

BE-ACTT was open to current BPS paraprofessionals who were fluent in English and at least one of the following languages: Spanish, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Vietnamese, or Chinese. Candidates needed a bachelor's degree and a commitment to teaching in BPS bilingual programs upon completion. The program specifically targeted the bilingual staff members who were already serving as language bridges in their schools — translating for families, supporting students during instruction, and helping to create culturally responsive classroom environments.

What the Program Offered

BE-ACTT provided a comprehensive, no-cost pathway to licensure. The program covered:

• Targeted MTEL exam preparation in both English and the candidate's target language, with all exam fees paid by the district
• Coursework in bilingual education methods, sheltered English immersion, and second language acquisition aligned with DESE licensure requirements
• One-on-one mentoring from experienced BPS bilingual educators who understood the specific demands of multilingual classrooms
• Classroom practicum hours integrated into existing school placements, allowing candidates to develop teaching skills in familiar environments
• Course materials and, where available, stipends or schedule accommodations to reduce the burden on working professionals

Supported Languages

The five languages served by BE-ACTT reflected the largest non-English language communities in BPS: Spanish, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Vietnamese, and Chinese. Together, these language groups represented the vast majority of English Learner students in the district. By focusing on these languages, the program concentrated its resources where the need for bilingual teachers was greatest.

The Goal

BE-ACTT existed to increase bilingual teacher representation in Boston Public Schools. The district's bilingual programs could only fulfill their promise to students if they were staffed by qualified bilingual educators — teachers who could deliver rigorous instruction in two languages and who understood the cultural contexts of the communities they served. By investing in the bilingual paraprofessionals who were already part of the BPS community, the program created a sustainable pipeline of educators uniquely prepared to meet this need.