Editorial: Their Future Is Ours

The New York Times

noviembre 20, 2009

There are 16 million children in immigrant families in the United States, one of the fastest-growing segments of the population. It's an old American story made new in the age of globalization, when waves of human displacement in recent decades have led to immigration on a scale not seen since Ellis Island. But a country that has been so good for so long at integrating new Americans is stumbling under the challenge.

Miami High Teacher Honored by State Teacher's Union

Miami Herald

noviembre 20, 2009

To see Florida's top teacher, turn on the TV and find an old episode of Miami Vice. Joe Underwood appeared a number of times on the show, sometimes as a narcotics officer, other times as a dancing bar patron. But when the series went off the air, Underwood took on a new role: He became an educator.

Grant Restores ESL Classes

The Herald News (MA)

noviembre 20, 2009

SER Jobs for Progress, a non-profit organization that offers opportunities for adults to expand job skills training and education, has received a $20,000 grant to restore an adult basic education class that was cut when financing for the Massachusetts program was reduced. The Verizon Foundation presented SER Jobs with a check at the organization's Fall River, MA office on Wednesday.

Tennessee Will Let ELLs Take Tests in 'Simplified English'

Education Week

noviembre 19, 2009

This coming spring, Tennessee will give its state assessment to English-language learners for the first time in "simplified English," according to a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Education. The state is calling the alternative test form "English Linguistically Simplified Assessment" and it will be used for math, reading, science, and social studies. While the test items use rudimentary English, or in testing lingo, what is often called "plain English," the content is on grade level.

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Budget Woes Frustrate Foreign Language Goals

The Washington Post

noviembre 19, 2009

Virgina's Fairfax County School Board took a sharp detour from America's aversion to learning foreign languages when it adopted an ambitious goal in 2006 that language instruction should start early and graduates should be able to speak two languages. Lean budget years have tested that resolve. In tough times, parents and board members are debating whether foreign language instruction, particularly in early years, is fundamental or a frill.

District Working to Ensure Students Have Similar Opportunities

Stillwater Gazette (MN)

noviembre 19, 2009

"Equity" may sound like just another education buzzword, but the concept has become a recurring thorny issue for Stillwater Area Public Schools as board members and district staff map out the district's future. From technology to transportation, a large proportion of the wide-ranging topics before the board will force them to grapple with managing disparities in some way.

Do Charter Schools Enroll Their Share of ELLs?

Education Week

noviembre 18, 2009

Diane Ravitch over at Bridging Differences observes that many charter schools "have disproportionately small numbers of children who need special education or who are English-language learners." That complaint has been popping up in a number of different places lately.

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Mass. Immigrant Tuition Bill to Get New Push

Associated Press

noviembre 18, 2009

It seemed like a given that Mario Rodas would go to college. The Guatemalan-born student certainly had the academic credentials, going from English as a second language classes to taking advanced placement exams for college credit his senior year at Chelsea High School. But paying for it was another matter. As an undocumented immigrant in 2005, Rodas would have had to pay out-of-state tuition fees to go to a public college in Massachusetts, and he couldn't afford that. If he had lived in Texas or Utah, states that allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates, Rodas, now 22, might have graduated already.

Minorities in Gifted Classes Studied

The Washington Post

noviembre 18, 2009

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced Tuesday that the Virginia Education Department has launched a study of minority students' low participation in gifted education programs statewide. African Americans represent 26 percent of the state's 1.2 million students but 12 percent of those in gifted education programs. Hispanics are 9 percent of the state's schoolchildren, but 5 percent of gifted students.

Villaraigosa, Teacher Groups Vie for 4 Schools

Los Angeles Times

noviembre 17, 2009

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and groups of teachers backed by the Los Angeles teachers union will compete for control of four campuses, including Jefferson High School, as part of a groundbreaking reform initiative. The impending face-off emerged Monday as groups inside and outside the Los Angeles Unified School District scrambled to meet a 5 p.m. deadline for applications to run 30 district schools.

A Rush to Learn English by Cell

The Washington Post

noviembre 17, 2009

More than 300,000 people in Bangladesh, one of Asia's poorest but fastest-growing economies, have rushed to sign up to learn English over their cell phones, threatening to swamp the service even before its official launch Thursday. "We were not expecting that kind of response — 25,000 people would have been a good response on the first day," said Sara Chamberlain, the manager of the discount service. "Instead, we got hundreds of thousands of people."

Programs Helping Hispanic Mothers Find Teaching Moments

The Dallas Morning News

noviembre 17, 2009

Catalina Vazquez had to become a student herself to learn how to be her child's first teacher. With help from the Dallas nonprofit program Avance, she and other Hispanic mothers are taking a more active role preparing their children for school. "At school, he likes to read and participate in class," Vazquez said of her 4-year-old son, Angel. But many Latina immigrant mothers aren't receiving such help because programs like Avance often suffer from limited funding and lengthy waiting lists.

How Are Districts Using Stimulus Funds for ELLs?

Education Week

noviembre 16, 2009

The three top ways that federal stimulus funds are being used to improve schooling for English-language learners are to improve the quality of teachers, step up services at the middle and high school levels, and increase instructional time through after-school or summer programs, according to a survey conducted by the Working Group on ELL Policy. The organization is made up of researchers who specialize in studying ELLs and make recommendations on federal policy for such students.

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Report: Immigrants Welcome in Minnesota

Daily Globe

noviembre 16, 2009

Immigrants are important to Minnesota's economy, especially for rural areas, a new report indicates. "Immigration stimulates job creation," according to the business coalition report. "As industries expand and hire new workers, jobs are created to maintain this larger workforce and to supply its needs for goods and services. Without new, young workers, certain sectors of the economy will continue to contract." The report was prepared by the state Chamber of Commerce, Agri-Growth Council, Nursery and Landscape Association, Milk Producers Association, and Hospitality Minnesota.

Lack of Funding May Close Historic Multilingual Preschool

Examiner.com

noviembre 16, 2009

An East Dallas institution that has helped children for nearly 40 years with strong United Methodist support is on the brink of closing, and its supporters, teachers and parents are asking for help. Open Door Multilingual Preschool opened 38 years ago with two classrooms. Its pupils then reflected the changing population of East Dallas: Southeast Asian such as Cambodian and Vietnamese, Hispanic/Latino, and African. Currently in addition to Anglo and Latino children, Open Door has pupils from China, Korea and Burundi, Africa.

Conversation: Sesame Street's 'Maria'

NewsHour Art Beat (PBS)

noviembre 13, 2009

Sesame Street celebrates its 40th anniversary Tuesday, and there at nearly the beginning was Sonia Manzano, who was cast as "Maria" in the early '70s, becoming one of the first Hispanic characters on television. After ten years as in that role, Manzano began writing scripts for the series and has earned 15 Emmy Awards as part of the Sesame Street writing staff. The NewsHour's Jeffrey Brown talked to her by phone Tuesday about the early days of the show and about working with and writing for children.

Learning English Through Hip-Hop

Delaware Online

noviembre 13, 2009

As class began earlier this week, teacher Michelle Erskine popped a CD of the hip-hop song "Wild Ride" into a player, its staccato rhythm beginning to boom as the children leaned forward to listen. This was not music-appreciation class at Georgetown Middle School. It was an English class. And the song — chock full of vocabulary words with phrases such as "lolled on the sofa" and "my laziness was contagious" — helped tell a musical story as it also taught a lesson.

Hard Work Pays Off for Texas Student

Carrollton Leader (TX)

noviembre 13, 2009

Carrollton, TX native Alyssa Mayse is the first in her immediate family to go to college and she's making the most of the opportunity. "Truly anything is possible," said Mayse, a freshman at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Her hard work led to her to receive just shy of $38,000 in scholarships and grants this year, with three of four scholarships renewable as long as she earns a minimum 3.0 GPA. Within SMU, she was awarded several different and her Hispanic heritage also made her eligible for many honors and awards.

Rules Set for $4 Billion 'Race to Top' Contest

Education Week

noviembre 12, 2009

For a good shot at the $4 billion in grants from the federal Race to the Top Fund, states will need to make a persuasive case for their education reform agenda, demonstrate significant buy-in from local school districts, and develop plans to evaluate teachers and principals based on student performance, according to final regulations set for release Thursday by the U.S. Department of Education.

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Superintendent Defends ESL programs

The Sand Mountain Reporter (AL)

noviembre 12, 2009

Proration has hit Alabama public schools, but recent suggestions of cutting English as a Second Language programs as a cost savings aren't plausible, say Albertville school officials. Albertville City Schools Assistant Superintendent Joyce Bishop defended ESL programs as a necessity that help not only ESL students but also all children in need of extra assistance. Bishop said Albertville City Schools have approximately 800 English language learners taking part in the ESL program.