Grant to help bilingual education at CSUSB

Cal State San Bernardino has received a $500,000 state grant that it will use to promote bilingual education within the university.

The funding from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing will help improve the school’s Integrated Bilingual Authorization Program, which is part of the James R. Watson and Judy Rodriguez Watson College of Education, according to a statement on Cal State San Bernardino’s website.

The Watson College and San Bernardino Valley College applied for the grant, which will last two years. The funding “will provide full tuition to cohorts of bilingual students who have demonstrated language competency, interest in becoming bilingual teachers,” according to the statement.

Fifty-one percent of the Inland Empire’s population is Hispanic, which makes bilingual education a high priority in the region.

“Bilingual education programs are not just about teaching languages, they’re a cornerstone of equity and inclusion in education,” said Chinaka DomNwachukwu, dean of the Watson College, in the statement. “Thanks to the IBAP grant, we will be able to offer full tuition opportunities to aspiring educators, ensuring that our college remains a beacon of accessible and inclusive teacher preparation.”