Bilingual Educators and Accelerated Community to Teacher (BE/ACTT) Program

BE/ACTT Guiding Principles

Becoming a BPS teacher means:

  • Learning to develop, deliver and reflect on intellectually stimulating, racially literate and inclusive lessons plans

  • Understanding and enacting culturally and linguistically sustaining pedagogy and practices

  • Developing professional skills needed to obtain a teacher of record position

The BE/ACTT is Year 1 of our two-year pathway of affordable, accessible, and culturally affirming teacher preparation programming. Residing in the Office of Human Resources as part of the district’s “grow your own” Teacher Pipeline Programs, the BE/ACTT is a component of the district’s overarching strategy to prepare and sustain racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse aspiring educators. 

At no cost to participants, we provide coursework and counseling designed to prepare candidates to be culturally affirming, racially literate teachers in Boston’s schools. BE/ACTT is an intensive 12-month program that aims to prepare aspiring teachers to enter the classroom with provisional licensure.

You do not need to be bilingual to join our program! We have a pathway for BOTH bilingual educators and monolingual educators.

 

Eligibility

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree

  • Demonstrate experience and/or passion working with youth in an educational or mentoring setting.

  • Meet all legal requirements to work in the United States.

  • Reside in Greater Boston.

 

Coursework

  • Foundations of Teaching & Learning in BPS— in-person, September-May, Saturdays 9a-3p

  • Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) preparation courses— Summer, in-person & virtual

    • All participants are required to attempt the Communications & Literacy MTEL test while enrolled

  • Content Methods Course— virtual— in the following areas:

    • Bilingual Education

    • Early Childhood Education

    • Elementary

    • Secondary ELA/Humanities

    • Secondary Math/Science

We recommend that BE/ACTT candidates enroll in a free, BPS-sanctioned RETELL course to earn Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement— Fall & Spring, virtual

To earn your provisional license in one of the subject areas above, you must pass the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) required for that subject. Learn more about licensure requirements here.

BE/ACTT candidates complete all coursework, prepare a hiring portfolio, participate in a pre-practicum experience, and attend BPS’s largest recruitment event of the year- Demo Day. This year, Demo Day will be on March 7, 2026.

 

Counseling/ Support

Participants receive guidance from our Aspiring Teacher Coach & Bilingual Inclusive Ed. Coach throughout the program, including:

  • 1:1 support with coursework

  • Emotional and career support

  • Guidance on MTEL preparation and testing

  • Hiring support from instructors and tutors

BE/ACTT candidates develop their teaching skills in a cohort and learn from highly-skilled teachers and community partners through a rigorous, interactive community-based experience.

Applications for the SY26-27 Cohort will open in January 2026.

If you’re interested in applying at that time, please fill out the Interest Form to receive updated information.

Interest Form

Contact us:

Ivelisse Santos-Hicks, BE/ACTT Aspiring Teacher Coach

isantoshicks@bostonpublicschools.org