Bilingual Enrichment Services and Training (Project BEST): Community School District 2, Manhattan. Final Evaluation Report, 1992-93. OER Report.

This report presents an evaluation of Bilingual Enrichment Services and Training (Project BEST), an Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title VII-funded project in its third year of operation at four schools in Manhattan. The project served 266 Cantonese-, Fukienese, and Mandarin-speaking gifted students of limited English proficiency. Participating students received instruction in English as a Second Language (ESL), native language arts (NLA) and content subjects. Content area instruction used one of three approaches: (1) Cantonese and Mandarin only; (2) Cantonese and Mandarin supplemented by English; and (3) English with an ESL methodology. Staff development workshops and parent participation activities were integral to the project. An evaluation of Project BEST found that it met its objectives for NLA, the content areas of mathematics, science, and social studies, instrument identification, curriculum and staff development, and parental involvement. It failed to meet its objective for placement in Intellectually Gifted Children's (IGC) classes. Recommendations on program improvement are included. Two appendixes include a list of instructional materials and resource center materials used. (MDM)