Most elementary schools in the United States now serve students learning English as a new language. This professional development program prepares teachers who work with limited English proficient students, to use strategies that develop LEP students' social and academic English and support their transition to US culture and schools. This professional development program is appropriate for teachers in a variety of program models: mainstream classrooms, self-contained ESL classrooms, bilingual programs, and others. The program was designed and written by four experienced teacher educators in Florida: Allene Grognet, Maria Derrick-Mescua, Lynda Franco, and Judith Jameson.

The complete program requires 45 hours (40 in-class hours and 5 hours of structured, outside assignments), but the program is easily adapted to local needs and time frames. The contents include chapters on reading, first and second language acquisition, culture, writing, math, other content areas, assessment, parent involvement, putting it all together, and additional resources. The highly interactive program uses a variety of learning methods: trainer presentation; video observation; participant readings; and pair and small group work. Throughout the program, participants apply what they are learning to their own curriculums and materials.

The ready-to-use set of materials consists of a trainer's manual (trainer's transcript and transparency masters), a participants' study guide (handouts and materials for participants), and a video which provides observations of the strategies in use in classrooms. Additional study guides are available for use by participants.