New Blog: Secretary Cardona's Letter on English Learner Resources | |
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In November 2023, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona released a letter emphasizing the "Raise the Bar: Lead the World" initiative. Read this blog to get a brief overview and access links to the full letter in both English and Spanish. The letter includes several resources from ED on how to support ELs.
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OELA Grantee Spotlight: Project LEAP UP | |
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Project LEAP UP, short for “Learning, Encouraging, and Planning to Uplift Performance,” is a National Professional Development 2022 grant project based at the University of Texas at El Paso. The project's goal is to enhance the number of highly qualified teachers in ESL and Dual Language/Bilingual Education within West Texas schools. Activities involving LEAP UP participants include test-prep sessions, recruitment initiatives, and Head Start workshops for educators and parents, as well as a recognition event for Cohort I Program completers.
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Join the English Learners Success Forum for a Science of Reading & Multilingual Learners (MLLs) webinar series to learn from top researchers, practitioners, and State and local leaders what they see as the components of a quality literacy curriculum for MLL success. This series will deepen knowledge on the design of literacy materials that not only reflect the science of reading but also meet the needs of the diversity of students in U.S. classrooms. The first webinar is on February 6, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. PT. | |
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On February 19 from 5-6 p.m. ET, TESOL invites all those who serve, work with, or want to learn more about newcomers to a FREE panel presentation, providing a variety of background, resources, challenges, and opportunities in supporting newcomers. Featured panelists include:
- Montserrat Garibay, OELA Assistant Deputy Secretary & Director
- Beatriz Ceja, OELA Deputy Assistant Secretary
- Gwen Snow, Principal, Newcomer Academy, JCPS (Louisville KY)
- Connie Banks, ESOL Instructional Coach/Teacher
- Stacy Brown, Director, Refugees Forward (Oklahoma City Metro Area)
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The CABE 2024 Annual Conference is a 4-day event scheduled to take place in Anaheim, California with a theme of Strength in Unity: Embracing the Tapestry of Our Diversity, Cultivating Our Heritage, & Celebrating Our Multilingualism. CABE 2024 offers 40+ speakers, 300+ workshops and events, and 125+ exhibitors. | |
Connect, learn, and recharge at the ultimate event for English language teaching (ELT) professionals. You'll have the incredible opportunity to meet and connect with ELT colleagues from all over the world. You will also have access to 800+ educational sessions, three captivating keynote addresses, and 60+ exhibiting companies. Lock in advance savings by registering by February 15, 2024. | |
Join the National Association of English Learner Program Administrators (NAELPA) for the 2024 Hybrid Conference. The theme of this year's conference is “Leading Change in Multilingual Education.” In addition to the virtual offerings, the in-person conference will be Tuesday, March 26–Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in New Orleans in conjunction with the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) Conference. The NAELPA conference includes keynote presentations from Dr. Jessica Costa and Crystal Gonzales as well as ED and OELA. | |
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March 28–30
NABE 2024 Conference
Conference
| The NABE Annual Int’l Conference is a 3-day event scheduled to be held in New Orleans from March 28–30. The conference will include educational sessions, inspiring keynote speakers, award competitions, and networking opportunities. Attendees can also register for School Visits on March 26 and the Pre-Conference Day on March 27. Online registration is available through February 29, 2024. For attendee registration and general conference information, you can contact mconf.reg.nabe@gmail.com. | |
Join the global community of English language professionals for the virtual TESOL 2024 Convention and English Language Expo on April 11–12. You'll gain exclusive access to recordings of the three keynotes from the in-person convention as well as 200+ pre-recorded virtual sessions. Please note that the virtual sessions are different from those that were presented in Tampa at the in-person convention. | |
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The In-Person Conference is scheduled at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Brunswick from May 29–31. Register for 1, 2, or all 3 days and take advantage of networking opportunities with colleagues. Stay updated on State and national initiatives, and don't miss the chance to explore the latest teaching tools by visiting the representatives at the sponsor and exhibitor booths.
Presentation topics will include General Interest, Content Area Instruction, Bilingual/ESL Pre-K through 12, Higher Ed, and more. Register early (by February 2, 2024, at 10 p.m.) for a discounted rate. All registrations include 1 free year of NJTESOL/NJBE membership.
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Mark your calendar for June 5–7 for the Cambio de Colores Annual Conference. This year's theme, “Sparking Change, Integration, and Deep Connections,” renews our call to action and commitment to learning alongside leaders and experts from our changing communities. This professional development opportunity is an excellent chance for bilingual educators, counselors, and school district leaders who aim to create welcoming communities for newcomers to learn from each other. | |
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October 15–18
WIDA Annual Conference
Conference
| The WIDA Annual Conference is the premier event for educators of Pre-K through Grade 12 multilingual learners, giving educators from around the globe the opportunity to share best practices and discover innovative classroom strategies. The in-person conference will take place October 15–18, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A curated virtual track will also be available. | |
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Preply
Bilingualism in 2024: U.S., U.K & Global Statistics
Being bilingual or multilingual comes with many benefits, from improved cognitive abilities to greater cultural awareness, understanding, and creativity. The authors of this report conducted a survey asking 2,000 UK adults how many languages they speak fluently and analyzed Google searches in the U.S. to determine which languages are most sought after in terms of learning. The results were combined with further research into global language use statistics to generate the most up-to-date facts and figures on the topic of bilingualism and multilingualism in 2024.
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Education Week
$890 Million in English-Learner Aid Is Under New Management. Why Researchers Are Hopeful
Management over the State grants for improving instruction of ELs returned to ED’s OELA. The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education has overseen Title III grants for the last 15 years. The Federal aid is intended for supplemental services in the language and academic instruction of ELs. Even without control over Title III funds, OELA has led the conversation around best practices for EL education. Researchers hope that OELA’s impact on EL policy and instruction will grow under the latest move.
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Source NM
Lawmaker, Educator, Wants Language Programs to Lead Public School Education Reform
In 2018, a judge ruled that New Mexico was failing to provide the majority of its students in public schools with an adequate education to the point that it was unconstitutional. House Bill 39 lays out more than $27 million in funds for bilingual education, culturally relevant education, and student health. The bill would allocate funding to public colleges and universities, Tribal colleges in the State, and the Public Education Department to help bring New Mexico into compliance. The goal is to support bilingual and culturally responsive education in the State’s public schools, a reform that is required under the 2018 judgment.
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Next100
NEW RESOURCE: On the Right Path: Newcomer Student Enrollment and Course Placement Promising Practices
This report assesses State Education Agencies' guidance on collecting and utilizing students' prior education experiences during initial enrollment, emphasizing specificity. It is based on a comprehensive review of publicly available documents from all 50 State Education Agency websites, covering guidance on enrolling and serving multilingual and immigrant students, including Title III procedures for identifying, serving, and exiting ELs, along with documents focused on newcomer students.
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CAL Solutions: Teaching Reading to Students Learning English: Direct Strategies
Join the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) for a 3-day, hybrid Direct Strategies Institute based on CAL’s widely used “What’s Different About Teaching Reading to Students Learning English?” professional development program. The engaging 3-day synchronous and asynchronous institute on February 14, 21, and 28, 2024, is designed for school administrators and classroom, ESL, and literacy teachers who want to ensure reading progress for ELs.
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Building on the Cultural and Background Knowledge of English Learners in Classrooms and Counseling Groups
This course aims to empower all school staff by providing insights into resources such as picture books, videos, and websites that reflect diverse cultures. It focuses on building on the background knowledge of ELs and offers strategies to engage ELs and all students. Participants of this course on February 20–24, 2024, will learn effective approaches to support language development and facilitate academic as well as social/emotional learning. Register by February 13, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. EST to secure your spot.
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ASSETS Podcast
Tune into ASSETS, the podcast hosted by Dr. Jobi Lawrence from UCLA CRESST. Listen in as we share the first of the two-part series commemorating and reflecting on the 50th anniversary of Lau v. Nichols with Mr. Edward Steinman, the attorney who successfully argued the landmark legal case affecting ELs and educators. ASSETS is an original podcast series that can be accessed on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
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WIDA Español Academy: Afirmando la experiencia bilingüe con el Marco DALE
In this 2-day WIDA Español Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, educators link the pedagogical foundations of Marco de los estándares del desarrollo auténtico del lenguaje español de WIDA (Marco DALE) to the instruction of bi/multilingual students. Day two features a local school visit to observe pedagogical foundations like multiliteracies and transculturalism in action within a dual language or bilingual education program. This academy will be delivered in Spanish. Register by February 23, 2024.
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Universidad de Alcalá Teach & Learn in Spain Graduate Program
Teach & Learn in Spain is a graduate program designed for native or near-native English speakers. Through the program, students earn a Master’s Degree while gaining experience in a school in the Madrid region as a language assistant. The application period will be open from January 10, 2024, to March 20, 2024. The program begins on September 1, 2024, and concludes on July 1, 2025. For further inquiries, please contact Angela Sauciuc, Director of Programs and Teacher Training, at angela.sauciuc@institutofranklin.
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Sr. Research Associate
Center for Equity for English Learners, Loyola Marymount University – Westchester Campus
Los Angeles, CA
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A Review of 2023: Fact Sheets and Infographics | |
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In 2023, OELA presented numerous fact sheets and infographics. In addition to introducing new resources, we added additional translations to existing materials. Explore our latest video, showcasing these informative resources.
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Disclaimer: NCELA Nexus is intended to share information that can be of use to educators, parents, learners, leaders, and other stakeholders in their efforts to ensure that every student, including ELs, is provided with the highest quality education and expanded opportunities to succeed. The information and materials presented on NCELA Nexus do not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by NCELA, the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA), or the U.S. Department of Education.
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