Ariz. ELL Dispute Continues, Despite Federal Ruling

Education Week

May 20, 2013

Disputes over Arizona's approach to educating English-language learners show few signs of abating as the plaintiffs in a 2-decade-old lawsuit continue to challenge the state's requirement that such students spend more than half their school day learning English, with little access to other academic content.

Hawaii's Latinos Defy Stereotypes

Hawaii Business

May 20, 2013

Many people were surprised when the 2010 Census revealed that 120,000 people in Hawaii identified themselves as having Hispanic heritage, about 9 percent of the state's residents. In fact, the Hispanic population in the Islands had grown by 38 percent since the previous Census, while the overall population grew only 12 percent, making them the state's fastest growing ethnic group counted by the Census.

Quebec City High School Students Tout Bilingualism

CTV News (Canada)

May 20, 2013

While Bill 14 has revived many tensions between Quebec's francophone and anglophone communities, an English high school in Quebec City is offering a fresh perspective on the debate. Despite recent rifts between the two languages, St-Patrick's high school shows they're more blended than ever. In the cross-talk over Bill 14, it might be an example of how working together. Just eight blocks from the National Assembly, the bilingual high school students feel they're the lucky ones.

Sesame Street Announces New Latino Character: 'Mando'

The Huffington Post

May 17, 2013

"Sesame Street" has announced they are introducing a new Latino character and his name is Armando. As it heads into its 44th season the classic kids show will focus on Hispanic heritage. Armando or 'Mando' as he will be known on the show is a writer from Puerto Rico. He will not be the first bilingual character on the cast, "Sesame Street" already has Muppets Rosita and Ovejita, as well as Luis and Maria, according to a press release from Sesame Workshop.

All-Hispanic Alabama Soccer Team Wins School's First State Championship in 38 Years

NBC Latino

May 17, 2013

Collinsville, Alabama is a small town of approximately 2,000 people, but this past weekend a group of 22 Latino students put it on the national map. Collinsville High School's all-Hispanic soccer team won the state championship with a final score of 4:1. Principal Donny Jones, as well as the entire town, is elated because the school hasn't won a state championship in 38 years.

Celebrate Shorebirds: U.S. Forest Service Intern Helps Study Bird Migration

The Cordova Times (AK)

May 17, 2013

Through the America's Great Outdoors Initiative, Environment for the Americas offers internships to Latino youth and trains them in shorebird monitoring and environmental education. In this interview, California native Lesly Caballero talks about her experiences learning to conduct wildlife surveys and developing bilingual environmental education programs. Her upcoming project is shorebird surveys in the Copper River Delta, a crucial stopover site for migrating shorebirds on their way to their breeding grounds in the Arctic.

Common Core Supporters Firing Back

Education Week

May 16, 2013

Supporters of the Common Core State Standards are moving to confront increasingly high-profile opposition to the standards at the state and national levels by rallying the private sector and initiating coordinated public relations and advertising campaigns as schools continue implementation. In states such as Michigan and Tennessee, where common-core opponents feel momentum is with them, state education officials, the business community, and allied advocacy groups are ramping up efforts to define and buttress support for the standards — and to counter what they say is misinformation.

Supreme Court Justice Urges Immigrant Parents to Help Children with School

SchoolBook (NY)

May 16, 2013

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Wednesday told thousands of parents of English language learners to always ask for help when needed and to learn alongside their children. "They cannot do it without your help," she said at the 10th Annual ELL Parent Conference in New York City.

Your Neighbor: The Young Latino in Action

Times-News (ID)

May 16, 2013

On May 9, students in Latinos in Action, a leadership class and club at Jerome High School, unveiled their exhibit named Culture's Drive. Students chose a topic to write a vignette, and took a photo, that focused on their lives and culture. LIA is a national organization based in Utah and has existed at Jerome High School for three years. LIA's mission is to empower Latino youth through culture, service, leadership and excellent education with the sole purpose of graduating from college.

Dual Language in Early Education Best for Youngest ELLs, Report Says

Education Week

May 15, 2013

Young English-language learners who are still developing oral and literacy skills in their home languages benefit most in early-childhood programs that regularly expose them to both languages. That's one of several major takeaways in a new federally funded analysis of the large, and growing, population of dual-language learners, ranging from birth to 5, already enrolled in, or headed for, early-childhood-education programs.

English Language Learners in Cedar Falls Return to Neighborhood Schools

Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier (IA)

May 15, 2013

Elementary students in the English language learner program in Cedar Falls will see some changes when they return to school next fall. Namely, the students, nearly all of whom attend Orchard Hill Elementary, will be able to return to their respective neighborhood schools. Jill White, the district's student services coordinator, said the district is transitioning from a single-site program to a model that will allow ELL students to receive instruction in their individual schools. About 60 ELL students attend Orchard Hill.

One in Two New Rural Neighbors Is Latino

KWRG Public Media

May 15, 2013

Latinos have called both the rural and urban Southwest home for generations. But much of the rest of the nation is now adjusting to the latest wave of immigrants from Mexico and Latin America. Across rural America, one in two new neighbors is Latino, according to a recent study.

Head Start Centers Feeling 'Sequester' Pain

Education Week

May 14, 2013

When the automatic federal budget cuts known as sequestration went into effect in March, Margaret Molloy and her staff at a Head Start agency in the Tucson, Ariz., area started looking for places to make cuts. Child-Parent Centers Inc., which oversees 40 centers serving nearly 2,800 children in the southeastern part of the state, made plans to scale back on classroom supplies, learning materials, and conference travel. Some center maintenance, such as painting, would be deferred the upcoming school year.

DPS Wants Colorado to Make ELL Training Mandatory

The Denver Post

May 14, 2013

Colorado has a shortage of teachers with specialized English-learner training, as well as clasrooms that may have an insufficient curriculum for teaching the growing population of students who need help with English, according to a report released Tuesday by Gov. John Hickenlooper and Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia. Two DPS board members said the district must take a tougher stance in pushing for changes, including insisting that universities train teachers to work with English learners before they graduate.

All Races Attracted to HBCU Campuses

Tell Me More (NPR)

May 14, 2013

According to a new report, historically black colleges and universities are attracting more Asian and Latino students than ever before. Host Michel Martin discusses that and other findings with the report's author, Marybeth Gasman, and Morgan State University President, David Wilson.

Diversity at Issue as States Weigh Teacher Entry

Education Week

May 13, 2013

Slowly but surely, a growing number of states are eyeing policies to select academically stronger individuals for their teaching programs as one avenue to improve the quality of new teachers. Underneath the attention such plans are attracting, though, run deep-seated fears about their potential consequences — particularly whether they will result in a K-12 workforce with fewer black and Latino teachers.

Ideas for ELLs: Celebrating the End of the School Year

The New York Times

May 13, 2013

School calendars are different across the nation, so while classes may be in session for another two months where you teach, in another district, it's time for prom, awards season and commencement. Here are some ideas from Larry Ferlazzo for reflecting on the school year that can be adapted to wherever you are in the semester, and for students of any age and with any level of English proficiency.

English for Health: Class Keeps English Learners Healthy, Saves Money

WMTV (WI)

May 13, 2013

The Literacy Network is a community organization in Madison, Wisconsin teaching English language learners how to navigate the health system, good health and nutrition habits, how to read those confusing labels, and communicate with providers. Instructor Marie Green Ganser says, "If you don't understand the health system, for example, you might go to the emergency room for an ear ache or a sore throat…and we try to teach them (students) proper uses of those facilities."

Latino High School Grads Enrolling in College at Record Rates, Outpacing Whites

Education Week

May 10, 2013

Latino students have reached a new milestone in the United States: A higher percentage who graduate from high school are enrolling in college than white students. In the class of 2012, a record 69 percent of Hispanic high school graduates went on to pursue higher education, compared with 67 percent of white graduates, according to a report released today by the Pew Research Center in Washington. In 2000, just 49 percent of Hispanic high school graduates enrolled in college the following fall.

A New Friend for Rosita? 'Sesame Street' Casting New Hispanic Character

Hispanically Speaking News

May 10, 2013

Sesame Street recently held a casting call in New York to find a new Latino act to join the famed cast. Though the new cast member won't be announced until May 10th, this won't be the first Hispanic character to join the long-running children’s program.