Dear English Learner Educator,

This January marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Lau v. Nichols. In the Lau v. Nichols U.S. Supreme Court decision, the court recognized the need for language instruction programs for multilingual students and amplified the responsibility of all educators to provide effective language and literacy supports. Find out more below and please direct questions related to English learner programs to Lau@education.ohio.gov

Resources for Lau v. Nichols

ASSETS Podcast. Join Dr. Jobi Lawrence on Feb. 15 for a live conversation and discussion with Edward Steinman, the attorney who successfully argued the Lau v. Nichols case. Details about what to expect and how to register for this no-cost Community of Practice session are available via the podcast’s website.  Along the way, listen to other ASSET Podcast interviews that take a deep dive into the education of multilingual learners on Spotify or Apple podcasts.

Lau v. Nichols 50th Anniversary Webinar. The recording for a recent commemorative webinar is posted on YouTube. It features Edward Steinman (the Lau plaintiff lawyer), school superintendents, policy experts, and other subject matter experts discussing the policy and practice implications of the Lau decision.

Professional Learning and Resources

Project ASSETS. This no-cost virtual English learner professional development program for Ohio educators will begin a new cohort in June 2024. Join colleagues who work across K-12 grade subject areas sharing ways to improve instruction for English learners. Educators who complete the 16-month series receive a $300.00 stipend provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Supporting those who pursue the TESOL endorsement, the workshops are an opportunity to review knowledge that is tested in the Ohio Educator Assessment English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). There are options to earn university credit for completing the program as well. Send an email to Lauren Wood if you have questions and apply here.

Multilingual Learner (ML) Series. The University of Cincinnati Systems Development & Improvement (SDI) Center offers online, self-paced professional learning modules for educators to enhance their skills in serving multilingual English learners. The series demonstrates evidence-based practices for supporting literacy and language learning and gives opportunities for teachers to reflect on their practices.

Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA) Support. Join staff from the Department to talk about the OELPA and ALT-OELPA. Upcoming office hours are scheduled for Feb. 28 and March 13. Click here to attend.

Engineering. This program introduces elementary age students to the field of engineering. Find out more about the video-based and in-person resources (English and Spanish) that may be available for young multilingual learners in your school. Contact Tim Schaffer at the Engineers Foundation of Ohio.

Reading Tips for Families. This online family resource hosted by the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities has added new links to early literacy materials in Spanish: Mis propios libros y colores, La aventura en una caja, and De paseo. Educators and parents may use these products to encourage fun explorations of reading with their infants, toddlers, and young children. More no-cost materials are available here.

Multicultural Childcare Recipe Collection. The 40 recipes featured in this collection published by the United States Department of Agriculture add flavors from different cultures and regions to childcare menus.

Reminder! The OELPA and Alt-OELPA test window is Jan. 29-March 22. See the Alt-OELPA Accessibility and Accommodations Manual on the Alt-OELPA Resources page of the test portal. Appendices C and D include a checklist and flowchart to guide IEP teams in determining a student’s eligibility for the Alt-OELPA.