Rebecca Bergey

Principal Researcher

Rebecca Bergey has over 15 years of experience supporting multilingual learners through rigorous research, program evaluation, and strategic planning.

Dr. Bergey's current portfolio includes directing mixed-methods studies and evaluations of language and literacy statewide initiatives, leading districtwide improvement for multilingual learners including recent work with Los Angeles Unified, Nashville Public Schools, and Arlington Public Schools, and leading regional efforts for policy analysis and tool development through Regional Education Laboratories and Comprehensive Centers. She is also advancing research on the intersection of artificial intelligence and education as part of AIR’s AI in Education Network.

Related Work
Teachers using computers in classroom
2025-11-01

Teaching with AI: Testing the Promise and Empowering Educators

AIR is seeking to build teachers’ capacity to use AI responsibly and effectively. We are working with public schools to learn how teachers are using AI now and to test training modules that help teachers build their AI skills.
prek students working on a puzzle
2024-10-01

Exploring How States Identify Pre-Kindergarten English Learners

AIR and New America have partnered on a project to examine how states are approaching the issue of screening and identifying pre-K children for English learner status. Findings from a 50-state scan of policies and guidance for identifying ELs in pre-K programs are available in a blog post, which is ...
Teachers planning together in classroom
2024-01-01

Researching How to Support Emergent Bilingual Students in Texas Middle Schools

The Middle School Collaborative Language Acquisition Strategies (MS CLASS) program helps Grade 6–8 teachers learn simple, effective ways to enhance their general instruction while also supporting emergent bilingual students.
Early childhood teacher and students
2022-10-19

How Expanding Transitional Kindergarten in California Can Benefit Dual Language Learners

19 Oct 2022
The start of the 2022-23 school year marked the beginning of the expansion of California’s transitional kindergarten (TK) program, which provides an additional year of early education prior to traditional kindergarten. Research has shown that transitional kindergarten improves learning for children overall, with especially pronounced benefits for dual language learners. ...
Three kids reading
2022-08-15

How Early Learning and Care Programs Can Support Dual Language Learners

15 Aug 2022
To understand better how educators and systems can support dual language learners and their families, AIR conducted interviews, surveys, and direct assessments on their experiences and outcomes in California from 2018-2022. The findings from this multifaceted study could inform policy and practice nationwide.  ...
Image of Hispanic family reading together at home
2020-12-03

Strategies for Supporting Young Students’ Home-Language Development During COVID-19—and Beyond

03 Dec 2020
With COVID-19 still affecting in-person education across the country, early childhood educators have had to find new ways to give students, especially those who are dual-language learners, early, rich linguistic experiences. AIR Senior Researcher Lisa Hsin describes a number of ways early childhood educators can help families foster their children’s ...
Image of preschool girl reading
2020-09-01

Impact of COVID-19 on Early Learning and Care in California

The COVID-19 crisis has taken a toll on California's early learning and care system, and early learning providers need more support. In order to understand the ways in which programs have adapted, the services they provide, and the challenges they are facing, AIR and Early Edge California collected data from ...
Teacher and young student playing with toy phone
2019-11-01

A Study of California’s Dual Language Learner Professional Development (DLL-PD) Grant Program

Dual language leaners represent large and growing population in California’s early learning programs. Yet, without formal certifications or training requirements, many early learning providers are not sufficiently prepared to work with DLLs. This report summarizes results from a study created to examine the implementation and impact of an investment in ...
2019-06-01

Study of Practices for English Learners

English learners face disproportionate educational challenges because they must master subject-matter content while also developing English proficiency. The Study of Practices for English Learners is funded by the Institute of Education Sciences and examines key policies, practices, and activities related to ELs nationwide. ...
Image of college students in a computer lab
2019-01-29

Using Technology to Support English Language Learners in Higher Education: A Study of Voxy’s Effect on English Language Proficiency

29 Jan 2019
Although English language learners (ELLs) have an increasing presence in postsecondary education, their unique needs are often unmet by institutions of higher education. Technology-mediated English language instruction may be a solution to the pressing challenges that postsecondary institutions face in providing personalized instruction to ELLs, because it allows instruction to ...
Image of boy and girl reading in classroom
2018-06-27

English Learners and Close Reading: Providing Scaffolding for Writing

27 Jun 2018
In June 2018, staff from the Center for English Language Learners facilitated a one-hour webinar featuring the writing component of the ACCELL model. The topic focused on scaffolding writing in connection with close reading activities.
Image of group of college-age English learners
2018-03-05

Serving English Language Learners in Higher Education: Unlocking the Potential

05 Mar 2018
Higher education institutions increasingly are faced with the challenge and opportunity of serving English learners (ELs) on their campuses. This white paper describes profiles of three types of English learners in higher education and details the motivations, experiences, and challenges that each EL faces in his or her academic pursuits. ...
Image of teacher and young students
2017-10-01

First 5 California Dual Language Learner Pilot Study

Over 60% of children from birth to age 5 in the state of California are dual language learners (DLLs). The First 5 California-funded Dual Language Learner Pilot Study seeks to identify the range and distribution of learning experiences for DLLs in California and to better understand how these experiences are ...
2016-09-01

Cultivating Oral Language and Literacy Talents in Students (COLLTS)

Cultivating Oral Language Literacy Talent in Students (COLLTS) is an early childhood program comprised of units that promote the development of pre-reading skills, oral language proficiency, and background and conceptual knowledge through the use of interactive reading with high-quality children’s literature. ...
Young female student writing at school desk
2014-09-01

Math and English Language Development for English Learners (Project MELD)

Mastering math and the academic language of math is essential for all students, but especially for English Learners, who are acquiring content knowledge and English proficiency concurrently. The goal of The first two years of the study Project MELD was to enable sixth-grade Spanish-speaking ELs to acquire the skills and ...
Image of Rebecca Bergey
Expertise
Education
English Learners

Ed.D., Curriculum and Instruction
University of Virginia

M.Ed., Secondary Education
George Washington University

B.A., American Studies/Spanish
Franklin and Marshall College

+1.650.376.6300

AIR in the News

Education Week

How Schools Serve English Learners Today, in Charts

Education Week

What Educators Say English Learners Need Most

What New Research Reveals About Grouping English Learners Together

EdSource

California Rethinks How to Identify 4-Year-Olds Who Need Extra Help Learning English

AL.com Education Lab

Alabama Teacher Helps Growing Number of English Learners at School: ‘Love These Kids’

Education Week

To Effectively Support English Learners, Build Teachers’ Skills, Experts Say

Education Week

Is Grouping English Learners the Right Approach? What New Research Says

Education Week

Professional Development Tips for Supporting English Learners

New America

Supporting Our Youngest Dual Language Learners

Lee & Low Books

Evidence-Based Ways to Enhance and Reinforce Language, Foundational Reading, and Emergent Writing with Young Learners from COLLTS