ESSA Increases State DSS Funding

Every Student Succeeds Act – ESSA In December of 2015, President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the latest update to federal education law and a bipartisan bill that aims to repair “the overuse of standardized tests and one-size-fits all mandates” and to empower “states and school districts to develop their own strategies for improvement.” One provision of … Read More

New Research Links Bilingualism with Better Attention and Self Control

New Research Links Bilingualism with Better Attention and Self Control Bilingualism has long been considered something of an advantage. Children who are taught to learn multiple languages are often better prepared for their lives ahead, not just for the reason that they can converse with people from diverse backgrounds in other countries, but because bilingualism is often an indication of … Read More

3 Ways to Connect Art with Literacy for Preschool

Lectura Books – 3 Ways to Connect Art with Literacy for Preschool 1. Preschoolers are highly visual creatures. They are engaged through sight as much as they are through touch. Bright colors and shiny objects are just some of the items that capture their attention and engage their imagination. By contrast, getting them to understand the basics of literacy can … Read More

Links and Resources for English Language Learners in Washington

The state of Washington has an ELL population of 107,307 students in the public school system. With a total enrollment of 1,051,694, ELLs make up just over 10% of the students enrolled in grades K-12. The five languages spoken by ELLs are Spanish, followed by Russian, Vietnamese, Somali, and Chinese. The following is a list of useful resources and programs … Read More

Resourceful Programs in Illinois for ELL Students

With an approximate ELL enrollment of 9.2% among grades K-12, Illinois has 190,172 English Language Learners in the state public school system as of years 2012-2013. 80% of ELL students in Illinois speak Spanish, with Arabic, Polish, Chinese, and Urdu making up the majority of the most common languages spoken by these families, in that order. The following is a … Read More

The Seal of Biliteracy Initiative

The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given to bilingual students upon high school graduation. The Seal of Biliteracy Initiative began in California and has now been adopted in 17 states, with more in progress. The national Seal of Biliteracy site states that: “The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, school district, or county office of … Read More

Understanding Basic Terms and Definitions for English Learners

Understanding Basic Terms and Definitions for English Learners The following are some terms that you’ve no doubt heard before, but you may be unclear on the definitions that are associated with each of them. This primer should help to better delineate between the most commonly used acronyms and jargon that parents and teachers alike might find confusing. ESL: English as … Read More