Who We Are - Intiatives

Plazas Comunitarias

As a means to improve the academic achievement of Spanish-speaking English language learners, the Spanish BETAC works with schools and community-based programs around New York State to promote high quality native language instruction for adults, youth and Students with Interrupted Formal Education (SIFE). In a bi-national partnership with Mexico's Institute for Adult Education (INEA), the NYS SBETAC is making available instructional in Spanish using print, multimedia, and web-based quality instruction materials developed in Mexico. For more information, click here.

Dual Language

The NYS Spanish BETAC supports the creation, development and quality implementation of dual language/two-way immersion programs in Spanish in New York City and New York State. This includes providing resources, technical assistance, and organizing a yearly conference on dual language for NYC and NYS educators. For research, resources and information on dual language and two-way bilingual immersion education (TWI), please click here.

Symposium on Spanish Literature

Each year highly recognized authors of children's and young adult literature from the Spanish-speaking world come to New York City for a day-long symposium to present their work and reinforce the importance of high quality Spanish language literature.

Symposium for Mexican Literature

This symposium showcases the experience of Mexican immigrants to the U.S. through literature in Spanish and English by Mexican and Mexican-American authors. It is a collaborative effort of the Institute for Latin American Studies (ILAS) at Columbia University, the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) at New York University, and the NYS Spanish BETAC at NYU.

New York State Spanish Spelling Bee

The 2010 - 11 NYS Spanish Spelling Bee is a collaboration among the New York State Education Department Office of Bilingual Education and Foreign Language Services, the New York City Department of Education Office of English Language Learners, and the NYS Spanish BETAC.

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