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.

Our session from May 2 focused on Program Evaluation and Grant Applications. Slides and recording are available now! 

The final session for this year will focus on using WIDA Assessment Results to Inform Instruction and will be held on:

• June 6 at 9:00–10:00 am | Add to Calendar
• June 6 at 3:00–4:00 pm | Add to Calendar  

For previous resources please go to the Multilingual Education Webinars and Newsletters page.

2024-2025 Refugee School Impact Funding Opportunity for WA State School Districts:  The central goals of the Refugee School Impact (RSI) program are to strengthen academic performance and facilitate social adjustment of school-age refugees. Funds can be used for activities that: (1) Ensure refugee students’ high academic performance and successful school integration; and (2) Strengthen the skills, knowledge, and competence of refugee parents, schools, and community-based organizations to support refugee students. For student services, grantees must provide individualized student demographic data, and English Language Proficiency Assessment data. For student or parent activities, grantees must collect and submit copies of immigration documentation verifying that participants are eligible for refugee services. We anticipate the availability of approximately $3 million for 13-20 sub-grants.  More information can be found here.  Applications are due June 14, 2024.  Optional Virtual Information Session on May 31, 2024 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: . Click here to register. For questions, please contact Mandy Pierce at mpierce@schoolsoutwashington.org.

We invite you to learn about the possibilities and promise of this approach, in a Street Data Fundamentals Workshop.

• Street data is the qualitative and experiential data that emerges at eye level and on higher frequencies when we train our brains to discern it.
• Street data is asset based, building on culturally responsive education by focusing on what’s right in our students, schools, and communities.
• Street data reminds us that what is measurable is not the same as what is valuable and that data can be humanizing, liberatory and healing.

What: Street Data Fundamentals Workshop

Outcomes:

• Engage in a humanizing experience to reflect on the past year and dream ahead
• Unpack the potential of using a Street Data approach in pursuit of transformation
• As a team, begin orienting to an equity-centered inquiry

Why: To get started with the Street Data approach - a transformational model to help you shift your focus from satellite-level data to real-time, on-the-ground stories, experiences, and artifacts that will guide your school or district’s community school journey. 

When: June 4th, 2024 1:30-4:30 pm

Where: in person at Puget Sound ESD (800 Oakesdale Ave SW, Renton)

How to join us: Gather a team of 3-6 colleagues in your school or district and complete this Request to Register. Once selected, PSESD will reach out with more details - there is no cost to register! Due to space being limited, please reach out to me (aalvarez@psesd.org ) if you are interested and I will secure a spot for you as you gather your team.

Spread the word: Share our flyer with colleagues and friends who may be interested.

Contact: Becca Horowitz, Director of Equitable Instruction (rhorowitz@psesd.org) 

The dashboard is now live in the Secure Data Portal! The dashboard includes the data needed for TBIP grant applications. Please note that only administrators with access to the Secure Data Portal will be able to view the dashboard. Please refer to the CEDARS District Administrators list in EDS to request access.

The dashboard can be accessed here, or by following this pathway: Explore/SecureDataPortal/Student/Data Visualizations by Topic/TBIP_Dashboard_Multilingual_Program.

You can also still access the “Rainbow Spreadsheet”, which includes WIDA and SBA data. If your district data is suppressed due to low numbers in any area, please contact our team and we can provide you with your complete district data directly.

OER Development/Adaptation Grant Opportunity

Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching and learning materials that are free to use, adapt, and share. To be considered for funding, proposals must address: either the development/adaptation of an openly licensed series of lessons/unit OR professional learning focused on a Washington developed resource found on the Washington OER Hub. Click here for more information. Applications Due: May 30, 2024 (by 11:59 pm)

2024 WIDA Annual Conference Registration Opens May 6!

The 2024 WIDA Annual Conference will take place October 15-18, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania under the theme Bridging Cultures, Empowering Multilingual Voices. New need to know information is now available on the 2024 WIDA Annual Conference website including a program at a glance, registration rates and more. This year’s event also includes a virtual track which is designed for attendees to experience a sampling of the WIDA Annual Conference. Enter to win! WIDA is giving away registrations to attend #WIDA2024 in Pittsburgh. Head over to our Facebook, Instagram and X accounts to learn how you can win

WIDA Professional Learning Opportunities 

Scaffolding Learning through Language Webinar Series

This webinar series provides educators with a fresh look at how to engage multilingual learners in rigorous content area learning with a balance of challenge and support. The purpose of the workshop is to encourage educators to consider classroom practices that move multilingual learning forward and upward together within the content of meaningful experiences where learning is mediated through language. Participants will explore how rigorous, well-sequenced curriculum contributes to rich classroom interactions that mediate learning and move students toward independent success.

Topics that educators will explore are:

• valuing students’ resources for learning
• developing a strong community of learners
• engaging students in rigorous curriculum

Three 90-minute virtual sessions | Registration Fee $350 4.5 PD hours - certificate provided.

June 10-12, 2024: 12:30pm-2:00pm US Central Time

Space is limited so register early! Registration will close once capacity has been reached.

Dual Language Program Implementation Survey

All planning or continuing dual language districts should be participating in the statewide Dual Language Program Implementation Survey from OSPI. The survey includes items aligned to the Washington State Dual Language Program Guide that are derived from the CAL Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education and should take no more than 5-10 minutes to complete. Surveys should be distributed to educators and administrators who are involved in the dual language program and have knowledge of its development. No individual responses will be identified and results for each district will only be available to OSPI and district leaders.

Please use the following link to complete the survey by the extended deadline of May 30: https://forms.office.com/r/sURbEdXZXt

2024-2025 Dual, Heritage, Tribal Language Grants

Time-sensitive: The Tribal, Dual, and Heritage language grant program

Intent to Participate Form is now ready to launch.

Please complete the Intent to Participate Form to be considered for a Dual (FP 979), Heritage (FP 978), or Tribal Language (FP 748) Grant.

The information you provide will help us determine the need across the state for grant funding to support Tribal, dual, and heritage language programs. All districts that complete this intent to participate and demonstrate readiness to benefit will be eligible to apply for funding. For more information, please refer to 1228-S3.SL.

Please complete the Intent to Participate Form by June 6th, 2024. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact:

Teresa Mendoza-Casby for Dual Language Grants

Ema Shirk for Heritage Language Grants

Kayla Guyett for Tribal Language Grants

We are excited to receive your completed forms by the June 6^th deadline.

2023-2024 Dual and Heritage Language End-of-Grant Reminders and Deadlines

As the 2023-2024 grant cycle comes to a close, deadlines are fast approaching. FP 978 and FP 979 have the following deadlines which must be met to be considered for future funding opportunities:

• June 6, 2024, at 4:00 PM Tribal, Heritage, and Dual language courses reported through CEDARS: Instructions on reporting program model and language of instruction.
• June 14, 2024, at 4:00 PM Advisory boards have met at least once and end of grant reporting: 2023-2024 DL/HL End of Grant Survey
• June 24, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.: Final budget revisions are due. After this time, no changes to the work funded under your grant can be made, but financial officers will be able to submit a final claims budget to account for actual spending.
• June 30, 2024, is the end of the project period. All services rendered and goods received must be completed by this date.

Upcoming Professional Learning

HL & Less-Commonly Taught Languages (LCTL) Educator PLC: Planning with Purpose: Now Asynchronous In this monthly PLC, heritage language educators and educators teaching LCTLs in all contexts will collaborate across the state to plan and reflect on units of study. 

          Tuesday, May 28 |Office Hours 3:00-4:30 PM | Zoom

Dual Language “Lunch with Leaders” PLC: Join your colleagues for this PLC to discuss problems of practice in developing and leading strong dual language programs.

          Tuesday, June 18 | 12:00-1:00 PM | Zoom

Dual Language Webinar Series: Developing Strong DL Programs: This webinar series explored how to develop strong, sustainable dual language programs. Each session explored one of the steps in planning a new dual language program or strengthening an existing one. Sessions were recorded and focused on establishing a plan for assessment and program evaluation. 

Seattle University is offering a new Bilingual Endorsement or Certificate of Completion in Spanish Bilingual Education, along with the ELL Endorsement Academy. Three courses are taught in English or Spanish, depending on whether teachers are in the ELL or Bilingual track. Earn your endorsement online from anywhere in the state!

Information Sessions held on June 5 & July 15 at 5:00 p.m. See the Seattle U ELL Endorsement Academy website or download this flyer for more information.

Are you and your staff looking for guidance or new ideas on how to increase the academic progress and English proficiency of Multilingual Learners?

The focus of the ESD 105 Multilingual Symposium is on identifying instruction practices, routines and strategies that meet the social, emotional and cognitive needs of our Multilingual Learners, especially adolescent learners. Dr. John Medina will present the first day of the symposium on his book, Attack of the Teenage Brain.

In addition, teachers, administrators and national representatives from Dual Language Education New Mexico and the Project GLAD® National Training Center will provide clarity and connections on brain-based instructional practices that fuel language and literacy growth.

June 25-26 | Zillah High School

Registration is $475 and includes lunch on both days and a copy of Dr. Medina's book. More information can be found here. 

The 32nd Annual Two-Way Bilingual Immersion Conference will be held from June 24 to June 26 at the Riverside Convention Center. This conference will offer powerful keynote speakers and innovative breakout sessions led by leaders in the Two-Way & Dual Language Education. Educators from throughout the U.S. will gather to share practices, study, review current research, and network in an effort to build programs of excellence. Professional Development and support to teachers, administrators, and school districts engaged in the development of their Two-Way Bilingual Immersion or Dual Language program. Dozens of exhibitors and vendors throughout the conference space will showcase the latest instructional materials and programs for you to review. Click here for more information. 

PSESD Presents: Joy, Agency and Identity: Building Secondary Math Classrooms for All Students 

How do I support multilingual learners who are newcomers in learning higher level math? As a leader, how can I design math course pathways that support multilingual learners and students with disabilities in graduating on time? How can we remove barriers, reimagine and support shifts in practice through an inclusive and collaborative design process?

This interactive conference focuses on supporting teachers and leaders in creating math classrooms that support the deep learning and belonging of all students. Our focus is on secondary math classrooms and students at the margins who have traditionally been underserved in math. There are tracks for teachers, leaders, and education technology. Presenters are a collective of educators and specialists in the fields of Special Education, Multilingual Learning, Ed Tech, Mathematics, Inclusion, Multi-tiered Systems of Support, and Equity. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from a panel of students who will share their lived experiences as math learners within our current education system. 

June 26th | Renton High School | Register

Secondary Dual Language and Immersion:
Achieving the Promise of Continuation Programs

As dual language and immersion (DLI) programs transition into secondary schools, teachers and administrators are often faced with unique challenges that are less frequently addressed in general DLI literature, research, and professional development programs. During this five-day institute specifically designed for the secondary (middle and high school) dual language and immersion context, participants will explore the what, how, and why of secondary continuation programs. In particular, the group will consider program structure, curriculum and assessment perspectives, and instructional practices that are necessary to ensure that DLI students continue toward high levels of bilingualism and biliteracy. Throughout this institute, participants will engage in constructive conversation, connect research to personal experiences, and apply new ideas directly to their teaching context.

July 29 - August 2, 2024 Register Here