Online Resources and Professional Development for Teachers of English Learners: A US State-by-State Analysis

Abstract

The United States has a growing population of English learners (ELs) and a shortage of trained English as Second Language (ESL) teachers, leaving many teachers unprepared to work with ELs. As teachers turn frequently to online resources for guidance, we reviewed the available resources and professional development on departments of education websites from all 50 US states and District of Columbia related to ELs. Our research question was: What type of resources and professional development are available on state departments of education websites that a teacher of ELs might benefit from? Findings suggest a majority of states link to federal resources. About half of the states provide more robust resources, such as webinars. Approximately two-thirds of states include links to professional resources; however, there is little consistency between the states as to which outside organizations they recommend. There is no correlation between the quantity or quality of a state’s resources and the EL population in the state.