Our monthly information sessions include professional learning for district leaders of multilingual learner programs as well as timely information with clock hours provided! Sign up here on pdEnroller.
The next session will be focused on the Pre-Referral Process for MLs and Identification of AI/AN Students for Title III Services and will be held on:
2023-24 Info Session Dates & Topics: Nov. 2: Family Engagement, Dec. 7: WIDA ACCESS, Jan. 4: Science of Reading, Feb. 1: Inclusionary Practices, Mar. 7: Braided Funding, Apr. 4: Long-Term ELs, May 2: Program Evaluation, & June 6: Using Assessment. (Topics subject to change.)
Add sessions to calendar: AM Session (9-10 am) | PM Session (3-4 pm)
For previous resources please go to the Multilingual Education Webinars and Newsletters page.
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Lindsey Maehlum is our new Program Supervisor for ESDs 112, 105, and 123 (working with Sue until her retirement in December). Lindsey lives in Vancouver, WA, and is a dual language parent and bilingual speaker of Norwegian! She worked at a newcomer center in New York City and most recently served as Director of Assessment and Data Management in Vancouver Public Schools. She is also working on her doctorate in Special Education.
Welcome to OSPI, Lindsey!
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LLRNs are professional learning communities of school and district language learning leaders in each Educational Service District (ESD) who meet regularly to engage in professional learning, collaboration, and program improvement planning. Click on the pdEnroller links below for a full list of dates and to register for a LLRN.
Region Program Supervisor: Virginia Morales
Region Program Supervisor: Katie Sperling
Region Program Supervisor: Shannon Martin
Region Program Supervisor: Sue Connolly & Lindsey Maehlum
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CEDARS will remain in Maintenance Mode until close of business on Friday, September 29th. In the event that CEDARS is not back online when planned, please note that you can still administer the WIDA screener to potentially eligible students without first assigning an SSID number. A district ID can be used as the SSID and then updated once the SSID is issued. This should allow a student to be tested within the 10-day window required for screening.
OSPI has launched a new publication that invites all Washington residents to ask OSPI questions directly and get answers publicly. Called The Study Session, this publication is an opportunity for families and community members to engage with OSPI on all things public education. It is published once per month on the OSPI Blog. Click to learn more about The Study Session, including how to submit questions.
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Please remember the following important dates and resources for notifying families about WIDA screening, placement in services, and continued eligibility. Letters and resources can be found on the Family Communication Templates webpage. See below and/or download this Notification Timeline for a reminder of what is required:
SEPTEMBER (within 30 days of start of school):
- Notification of Placement (for new students)
- Notification of Continued Eligibility (for continuing or in-state transfer students)
- Notification of Continued Eligibility (for students who take the Alt. ACCESS)
For Notification of Placement or Continued Eligibility letters, you will need to include the 4 and 5-year graduation rates for MLs and the average years to exit the program. Please see the Notification Letter Data for district-level data or use the state-level data (in green) if your data is suppressed due to low numbers of MLs. Please note that the average years to exit has been recalculated to include long-term English learners who exit upon graduation as well as students who meet proficiency on the WIDA ACCESS.
Please contact your Program Supervisor if you have any questions.
Dual Language Steering Committee
The OSPI Dual Language Steering Committee meets quarterly to provide input and leadership on developing strong dual language programs in Washington state. If you have expertise in this area and would like to join the committee, please send a letter of interest and a resume to Amairany.Le@k12.wa.us by October 9.
Meetings will be held this year on:
- October 13, 2023 (virtual)
- January 19, 2024 (virtual)
- April 26, 2024 (in person)
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Dual and Heritage Language Grants
Dual and Heritage Language grant applications opened on September 1st for New and Planning districts (in the planning stage or in the first 3 years of implementation). For districts that are Continuing and/or Expanding programs or are seeking funding for heritage Spanish language programs, funding will not be available until later this fall, likely sometime in October to November.
The legislature did not provide additional funds for grants this year but only allowed OSPI to use carryover funds that remain from the ESSER 2-year grant cycle from 2021-23. For the 2024-25 school year, the legislature allocated $4,725,000 for dual, heritage, and tribal language grants. Because of this, fewer funds will be available for the 2023-24 school year, but more support is coming in 2024-25 for these programs!
Dual Language Spanish Teacher Leader Cohort
A PLC to support Spanish Dual Language and Heritage teachers who are implementing the WIDA Marco DALE SLD Standards Framework.
- Applicants must commit to one full-day in-person WIDA workshop as well as a monthly PLC meeting.
- Applicants should be in positions in which they regularly teach or coach teachers in a Spanish Dual/Heritage Language Program.
- OSPI will provide substitute reimbursement for teachers!
To apply, please complete this survey!
Contact Teresa Mendoza-Casby or Katie Sperling for more information.
Seal of Biliteracy Rules Revision
During the summer and fall of 2023, the Seal of Biliteracy (WAC 392-420-350) will undergo a rules revision with the goal of recognizing students who achieve a higher level of proficiency as well as expanding the options for students to show proficiency.
OSPI is still looking to fill stakeholder groups to give feedback based on different perspectives of language education. These groups include, but are not limited to, :
- MS/HS World Language Education
- MS/HS Dual/Heritage Language or Bilingual Education
- MS/HS/District Administration
- (Department Head, Subject Area Coordinator, Director, TOSA, etc.)
- Special Education
- American Sign Language
- Less Commonly Taught/Tested Languages
- Career and Technical Education (CTE)
- Assessment/Reporting
- Alternative Learning Experiences/Options
- Other
Please fill out the Seal of Biliteracy Rules Revision - Special Group Member Interest Survey. Those interested must provide proof of experience or credentials. Selected participants will be notified after the survey closes on September 30, 2023.
If you have previous applied, you do not need to re-apply if your application is current.
For Tribal languages, OSPI will work with the Office of Native Education and Tribal consultation will occur.
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Washington OER Hub
The Washington OER Hub is an online library of free, high-quality K–12 learning and teaching materials created by and curated for Washington educators. On the Hub you can find units, lessons—even whole textbooks—that can be used with multilingual learners. You can also search by language, or use the Dual Language or Heritage Language groups, for materials in languages other than English.
Learn more about the Washington OER Hub and register for an Overview and New Resource Highlight session by clicking on one of the dates below:
For more information, review the Washington OER Hub Information resource or contact Barbara Soots, Open Educational Resources and Instructional Materials Program Manager.
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Title III is Now Open in EGMS
Grants in EGMS this year include CGA (includes Title III), Title III Consortium, and TBIP. Consolidated Grant Applications (which include Title III) were due September 14th and TBIP was due August 1st, but both will continue to be accepted. Please see office hours below for support opportunities.
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Technical Support for Completing Grant Applications:
TBIP, OSSI EGMS Office Hours
- Tuesdays | 10-11 am | Zoom
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Thursdays | 1-2 pm | Zoom
Video clips on how to complete the TBIP application:
These video clips are also in EGMS if you download them prior to qualifying for the opportunity. Videos can be located on the files tab of the opportunity.
Take part in our Standards Implementation Study!
WIDA is conducting a survey to better understand how educators make sense of and implement the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition. The survey will take approximately 25 minutes to complete. At the end of the survey, there is an optional extension opportunity for educators who wish to further engage with WIDA on this topic.
Your participation in this study will provide the opportunity to lift your voice and inform future development of resources and professional learning.
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The Zoom at Noon: Lunch with Leslie
Lunch with Leslie is an opportunity on Mondays at noon for districts to hear updates from the OSPI Assessment Team, ask questions about WIDA assessments, or find out how other districts are approaching testing processes.
The next Zoom at Noon session will be held on:
- Monday, October 2 at 12:00–1:00 pm | Zoom
These professional learning opportunities are shared for your information but do not constitute an endorsement by OSPI of any specific organizations.
PSESD Multilingual Learners Network
The MLL Network will consist of 3-6 school-based teams who will work together over the 2023- 2024 academic school year to learn and test new approaches to strengthen MLL’s sense of belonging and language development via continuous improvement methods and pedagogical strategies.
Please view this flyer or visit the website for more information.
If cost is prohibitive, let us know and we offer a sliding scale to ensure this is not a barrier. Please reach out to Karina Vanderbilt if you are interested in joining.
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WCEPS Pathways Tips and Dips
Free, one-hour webinar held every month.
Upcoming Session:
Join us as we provide tips and explore a quick dip into our session:
"The Discussion Project - How to Run a Structured Academic Controversy"
This month's free webinar content is focused on Grades 6-12.
October 3, 2023 | 5-6 pm US CT | Online | Register here.
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Bi-National Teacher Exchange Program from Mexico.
Presenter will share the district’s experience of hosting Bi-National Teachers from Mexico for their Migrant Summer School program. The presenter will share in detail, how to apply for this opportunity and an estimate of cost for the program.
Presenter: David Rodriguez, Director of Equity and Inclusion, Migrant Supervisor for the Mount Vernon SD.
October 17, 2023 | 9-10 am | Online Zoom | Register here.
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WIDA Annual Conference 2023
In-person 2023 WIDA Annual Conference Sold Out. Registration for the 2023 Live Virtual Track is still open!
The WIDA Annual Conference is the premier event for educators of Pre-K through grade 12 multilingual learners, giving educators from around the globe the opportunity to share best practices and discover innovative classroom strategies. A curated virtual option will also be available on October 18 that includes a sampling of sessions from the in-person conference. For more information, visit their website.
Dates: October 17-20, 2023
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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Register for the Conference by October 1st for best pricing!
Whether you work with English learners in k-12, adult ed, university IEP, or teacher prep, WAESOL has something for you with over 40+ sessions to choose from with nationally and internationally known speakers. Join us for a full day of in-person PD! (6 Clock Hours available)
Pre-Conference Workshops: Friday, October 20th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.
- Navigating the Intersection of English Language Education and Special Education(3 Clock hours)
- Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Education (3 STEM Clock Hours)
Date: October 21, 2023
Location: Seattle Pacific University
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2023 WABE Fall Institute: Weaving WIDA into the Fabric of Core Instruction
The mission of WABE is to promote inclusive and asset-based mindsets, systems, and practices that elevate multilingual learners.
Dates: October 27-28, 2023
Location: Tacoma Convention Center
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Plan now to attend our 2nd Annual WALAS Conference, Liderazgo Brillante: Empowering Latino Administrators and Superintendents!
Dates: October 27-28, 2023
Location: University of Washington Tacoma Campus
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Seattle University’s College of Education offers an online English Language Learner (ELL) endorsement academy for Washington state teachers.
Designed for K-12 teachers to meet the needs of today’s students, our online ELL academy provides coursework and classroom experience to prepare teachers to achieve their ELL endorsement.
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Duration: Intensive 9-month program with 24 credits
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Cost: Total 24-credit cost: $8,145
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Enrollment: Email e-academy@seattleu.edu for course application.
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Current K-12 teachers can now enroll in Gonzaga’s ONLINE ELL courses, either a la carte or as part of the ELL Certificate.
Options:
- Choose ELL courses a la carte to enhance your ability to teach ELL students in various subjects ($635/credit)
- Join the ELL Certificate track any semester ($8,900 for entire program, discounts available)
Next available courses:
- WINTER: Second Language Acquisition (Tuesdays, 4:30 to 7:30 PM. Attend via Zoom or in-person)
To enroll or ask questions, email CLL@gonzaga.edu.
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Kristin Percy Calaff, Ph.D. – Executive Director of Multilingual & Migrant Education | 564-999-3144
Virginia Morales– Supporting ESD 121 | Assistant Director of Multilingual Education | 360-725-4477
Shannon Martin– Supporting ESD 112, 113 & 114 | Multilingual Education Program Supervisor | 360-269-5232
Katie Sperling– Supporting ESD 101 & 171 | Multilingual Education Program Supervisor | 360 -701-5064
Sue Connolly– Supporting ESD 105, 123 & Charter Schools | Multilingual Education Program Supervisor | 360-522-0001
Lindsey Maehlum– Supporting ESD 105, 123 & Charter Schools | Multilingual Education Program Supervisor
Ema Shirk– Supporting ESD 189 and Heritage and Dual Language Programs | Dual Language Program Supervisor | 564-200-3167
Teresa Mendoza-Casby– Supporting Dual Language Programs | Dual Language Program Supervisor | 564-999-0610
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