Benchmark – Continual Professional Growth

Choose one professional development (PD) opportunity (i.e., a conference) offered in your state or nationally that pertains to educating English language learners (ELLs).
* Describe the conference and explain why it would be beneficial for you to attend.
*How would attending positively impact student learning and English language development?
Write a persuasive essay (750-1,000 words) to the school principal or the school board president who is reluctant to send you to the conference.

1. Describe the purpose of the conference and provide a rationale for attending. Support the rationale with scholarly research. Explain how attending the conference would improve your teaching practice and lead to higher learning outcomes for ELLs.
2. Describe the current ELL classroom structures as well as the socioeconomic breakdown of your current district. Address any legislation that has been passed within the last 5 years that has impacted the education of ELLs in your district.
3. Explain how the conference supports educating ELLs according to the ELP standards and legislation regarding educating ELLs.
4. Describe the steps that you would take to ensure the successful implementation of the resources and teaching strategies that would be obtained from the conference.

Include a link to the conference website on your References page. Any other relevant information regarding the conference should be included in an Appendix.
Include 3-5 sources from your research to support your position.
Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide