ELD Weekly Bulletin
Title III/ELD Listserv - Week of January 19th, 2015
U.S. Departments of Education and Justice Release Joint Guidance to Ensure English Learner Students Have Equal Access to High-Quality Education
The U.S. Departments of Education and Justice recently released guidance reminding states, school districts and schools of their obligations under federal law to ensure that English learner students have equal access to a high-quality education and the opportunity to achieve their full academic potential.
The guidance explains schools' obligations to:
- identify English learner students in a timely, valid and reliable manner;
- offer all English learner students an educationally sound language assistance program;
- provide qualified staff and sufficient resources for instructing English learner students;
- ensure English learner students have equitable access to school programs and activities;
- avoid unnecessary segregation of English learner students from other students;
- monitor students' progress in learning English and doing grade-level classwork;
- remedy any academic deficits English learner students incurred while in a language assistance program;
- move students out of language assistance programs when they are proficient in English and monitor those students to ensure they were not prematurely removed;
- evaluate the effectiveness of English learner programs; and
- provide limited English proficient parents with information about school programs, services, and activities in a language they understand.
The official press release and more resources can be found online here.
New Resources from WIDA
Learn more about using these resources to support teachers, families, and English Language Learners at the WIDA Comprehensive System.
Celebrate the 2015 Chinese New Year!
Free MOOC: Seven Esstential Practices for Developing Academic Oral Language & Literacy in Every Subject
Stanford University is currently offering a free MOOC, Seven Essential Practices for Developing Academic Oral Language and Literacy in Every Subject. This course opened January 14th and includes five modules through June 14th.
Learn more about this great professional learning opportunity at Seven Essential Practices for Developing Academic Oral Language and Literacy in Every Subject.
2015 Multicultural Education Institute - Registration, Call for Proposals, Teacher Incentive Grant & More!
Conference Call for the WIDA National Conference in October 2015
Have you considered presenting at the 2015 WIDA National Conference? Here’s your chance. All those who work with language learners are encouraged to submit proposals in the areas of: effective instructional practices, language development, program management, and state/national initiatives.
The 2015 WIDA National Conference will be held at the Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel from October 15-17, 2015. Information for those who wish to submit a proposal, including instructions, guiding questions, and more, can be found at: http://widaconference.us/presenter-info/index.aspx.
The closing date to submit proposals is Sunday, February 1, 2015. To submit your proposal to present, visit the proposal site. http://proposals.cps.wida.wceruw.org/
Tulsa Public Schools Title III/ELD will provide funds for registration and travel for any TPS staff member who is selected by the WIDA Consortium to present at the WIDA National Conference in October 2015.
The White House Intiative on Excellent Education for Hispanics invites you to participate in a webinar on Postsecondary Completion
WIDA 2015 Video Contest!
WIDA is sponsoring a video submissions contest for educators of English language learners (ELLs)! Deadline for submissions is March 20th, 2015!
WIDA would like to learn about, celebrate, and share model classroom practices that develop all students’ academic language and advance ELL achievement. We therefore are requesting 5- to 10-minute video submissions that include:
- Classroom interactions and/or activities that promote effective teaching, learning, and/or assessment of content and language for ELLs;
- Educator reflections/interviews on those classroom events.
All Consortium members who successfully complete the submission process will receive a $15 Amazon gift card to purchase books or materials for your classroom. The first-place award winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize and a scholarship for the awardee and a colleague to attend a 2015 WIDA Professional Development academy. The second-place award winner will receive a $500 cash prize and a scholarship for the awardee and a colleague to attend a 2015 WIDA Professional Development academy. The third-place award winner will receive a $250 cash prize and a scholarship for the awardee and a colleague to attend a 2015 WIDA Professional Development academy.
For more information, including how to submit your application, please visit wida.us/videocontest
***January 16th - ACCESS for ELLs PreID Labels & Tier Placement Orders Due***
January 20th, 8:30am - Veteran ACCESS for ELLs Test Administrator Training - Elementary
January 20th, 12:30pm - Veteran ACCESS for ELLs Test Administrator Training - Secondary
January 20th, 3:30pm - ELD Teacher Talk - Elementary: ACCESS for ELLs Planning
January 20th, 4:00pm - Rosetta Stone Software Demo for Secondary ELD Teachers
January 20th, 4:30pm - ELD Teacher Talk - Secondary: ACCESS for ELLs Planning
January 21st, 8:30am - New ACCESS for ELLs Test Administrator Training
January 22nd, 8:30am - New ACCESS for ELLs Test Administrator Training - Kindergarten
January 22nd, 3:30pm - ELD & Promotora Conenctions (CSC Selected Sites Only)
January 24th, 8:30am - WIDA Weekend Day 1