EL Coordinators Newsletter

1.  MDE Announcements

Join ELSIG!
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is seeking applications from educators, parents and community members to serve on the English Learner Stakeholder Input Group (ELSIG).  ELSIG provides MDE ongoing recommendations on a variety of issues relating to the improvement of standards, instruction and assessment for the state’s English learners (ELs).  It is composed of educators and community members from throughout the state who are knowledgeable about the educational needs of ELs.  Please see the attached flyer for more information, including meeting dates.

Apply online at http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22CWXKLS676/ by September 9, 2011. 

EL Coordinators’ Webinars – Save the Dates!
MDE English learner education staff will be hosting webinars during the 2011-2012 school year for EL Coordinators and other educators with responsibility for EL programs.  On Fridays from 1 – 2:30, the webinars will be focused on sharing information and discussing timely issues relating to EL education.  Save the dates and plan to join us! - September 23, October 28, December 2, January 27, February 24, March 30, April 27, and May 25.

Please register for the September 23 webinar in advance as space is limited - https://mde.webex.com/mde/k2/j.php?ED=159324157&UID=1207787737&HMAC=8ae47cba4744ed0b326cd58d8b33786a20db1022&RT=MiM3&FM=1.  Once you are approved, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the session.

ACCESS Ordering Training for District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) and Testing Schedule
A DAC meeting has been scheduled for September 22, 2011.  The meeting for DACs will be held at the Roseville Radisson.  Registration is open until September 8 - information was posted in the August 31 Assessment Update.  As a portion of the agenda for this meeting, MetriTech, the vendor for ACCESS for ELLs, will provide training on how to order materials for ACCESS.  Be sure to connect with your DAC regarding the training as you work together to ensure a successful first administration of ACCESS for ELLs. 

In addition, a revised testing schedule which includes ACCESS testing dates is attached and will be posted to the Testing Calendars page - http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/Accountability_Programs/Assessment_and_Testing/DAC_Corner/Calendars/index.html.

2011 TEAE/MN SOLOM Data Available
District student results (DSR) files for Test of Emerging Academic English (TEAE) and Minnesota Student Oral Language Observation Matrix (MN SOLOM) are available in Educator Portal (EP).  Contact your district assessment coordinator (DAC) if these data are used in your district for parent notification of EL services.  Also, district level data for TEAE and MN SOLOM are available at http://www.education.state.mn.us/MDE/Data/Data_Downloads/Accountability_Data/index.html.

Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAO) Update
Due to the state government shutdown and the standard setting process with the new MCA-III math results, AMAO results will be released no later than September 30, 2011, along with pending Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) results.  Given the anticipated September 30 release date, districts not making AMAO will have until October 31, 2011 to notify parents.  See attached timeline.

Parent Notification of English Learner Services
State Parent Notification - Minnesota law requires that parents are notified in English and in their primary language within 10 days of enrollment of a child in a program for limited English proficient students.  This means that all districts and charter schools must notify parents of all newly enrolled ELs.  Districts should keep record of the fact that parents of newly-enrolled students have been notified.  Parent Notification Forms can be found in 13 languages at http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/Learning_Support/English_Language_Learners/Communication_With_Parents/index.html.  Scroll down to Parent Notification- State Program.

Annual Title III Parent Notification - If your district receives federal Title III dollars, annual parent notification within 30 days of the start of school is required.  Title III parent notification goes beyond the state requirement.  It requires an outline for parents regarding when and how ELs are identified among other requirements.  All requirements for Title III parent notification are outlined in the NCLB Fact Sheet and Sample Parent Notification Letters which can be found at the following website: http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/Learning_Support/English_Language_Learners/Communication_With_Parents/index.html

Please note that the Title III Parent Notification letter consists of two parts, the “Title III Parent Notification Letter” which contains assessment and proficiency level information and the “Title III Program Description” which describes the programs and services available.  These examples are meant to be used as a model for districts to develop a notification letter specific to their programs and services for ELs.  Attached is a checklist to ensure that all required elements are included in the notification letter.

2. Workshops and Conferences

Archived Webinar: W-APT Test Administration Overview
The webinar overviews of W-APT test administration designed for Minnesota districts presented on August 31 are now archived and available for viewing on the WIDA website – http://www.wida.us.  Since all WIDA assessment materials are secure, to access the webinars:  
1. Use your WIDA username and password to login (upper right below the blue banner once you are on the WIDA website). 
2. Select “PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT” in the blue banner at the top and scroll down to click on “Workshops.”
3. Under the brown “ARCHIVES” section on the right side, click on “Show” for Minnesota Webinars and select the one you wish to view. 
If you do not have a WIDA login, please contact your district assessment coordinator. 

Educating Parents for Their Children’s School Success
The New Americans Services Collaborative Exc. Committee would is hosting an educational meeting on September 30: “Educating Parents for their Children’s School Success”.  Attached is a flyer with the information for this event.

It is a great opportunity to learn about culturally responsive parent engagement and promising programs, resources and initiatives designed to serve new Americans parents in understanding and navigating the K-12 education system.  Please register by Contacting Jessica Espinosa at 651-582-8512 or Jessica.espinosa@state.mn.us. 

Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL): Three-Day Training of Trainers
CAL is continuing its institutes in Washington, DC this fall on teaching reading to second language learners of English who are learning to read in English.

Three-Day Training of Trainers (TOT) Institutes
Tuesday-Thursday, October 25-27, and Wednesday-Friday, November 30, December 1-2.

What’s Different about Teaching Reading to Students Learning English TOT Institutes will provide specialists with everything they need to bring professional development to educators who teach reading in classes with English learners. A graduate credit option is also available.

For more information and to register for the TOT Institutes, please visit the CAL Website - http://www.cal.org/solutions/profdev/workshops/training.html

3.  Resources, Opportunities and Other News

Educational Resources for Migrant Students
Minnesota Migrant Education Resource Center (MMERC) staff at Hamline University would like to wish you well as you begin the 2011-2012 school year.  If you have migrant students in your classes, MMERC can support you with a variety of resource materials. See attachment for directions and further information.

ELL 'Shadowing' Brings Instructional Gaps to Light (Education Week, August 24, 2011)
Having teachers experience "a day in the life of an English learner" can be powerful professional development—and at one school it has reportedly helped close the achievement gap for English learners. 

Read full article -
http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2011/08/24/ell_shadowing.html?tkn=OUSFBAPKZcw9K43zcWvjnCI5Q0I3m5rFwb2p&cmp=ENL-TU-NEWS1

More English Learners, More ELs with Disabilities?  (Education Week, August 29, 2011)
By 2030, English language learners are expected to make up 40 percent of America's school population. With some states experiencing a 700 percent growth in the number of English learners in their schools between 1994 and 2005, the department expects the number of English learners with disabilities to increase, too.  So how should schools work with a potentially growing number of students learning English who also have a disability?  The US Department of Education is soliciting ways to address this issue.

Read full article - http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/speced/2011/08/_the_us_department_of.html.