NY State Education Department Releases “Blueprint For English Language Learners Success”

SCHOOL & EDUCATION, PRESS RELEASES

Blueprint Lays Foundation to Prepare ELLs for Success in P-12 and College and Career Readiness.

Albany, NY - April 11th, 2014 - The New York State Education Department (SED) today announced the release of “The Blueprint for English Language Learners (ELLs) Success,” a statewide framework of eight guiding principles for administrators, policy makers, and practitioners to prepare ELLs for success beginning in prekindergarten to lay the foundation for college and career readiness. Over the last decade, there has been an increase in the number of ELLs enrolled in public schools in New York State. Today there are more than 214,000 ELL students in the state who speak more than 160 languages. The principles in “The Blueprint for English Language Learner Success” provide guidance, resources, and supports to districts, schools, and teachers to promote an understanding and appreciation of Bilingual Education, English as a Second Langauge, and Foreign Language Studies.

“The State is taking a proactive stance to set high expectations for districts and schools working with English Language Learners,” Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl H. Tisch said. “For too long our system has not been meeting the needs of ELLs. As the State transitions to the Common Core it is even more critical that we lay a strong foundation for these students. This blueprint is a great step forward. The State is providing guidance and taking a strong position on the systems and supports that need to be in place for ELLs.”

“Our goal is to make sure all students, including English Language Learners, gain the skills they need for college and career readiness,” said State Education Commissioner John B. King Jr. “It’s imperative that ELLs get the support they need to succeed academically. That's why we've developed “The Blueprint for ELL Success" -- to provide guidance todistricts and educators on how to prepare ELLs for success from an early age and how to promote better understanding of bilingual education.”

The “Blueprint for English Language Learners Success” includes guidance on ensuring the academic and social needs of ELLs are addressed by educators and school leaders; engaging ELLs in Common Core instruction; involving parents and families of ELLs in the education of their children; supporting bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers; leveraging ELLs' home languages and cultural assets; and monitoring ELLs' content knowledge and new and home language development to inform instruction.

“It is critical that our students have real opportunities for success in our public schools. For years research has shown that early childhood and bilingual education programs must be provided in order to create a strong foundation for our students and enable them to become biliterate and culturally competent adults,” said Luis Reyes, researcher at the Center for Puerto Rican Studies. “The Blueprint creates a clear expectation to maintain and open more of these programs throughout the state.”

“Our district is in the process of evaluating our programs for English Language Learners,” said Mayra Todd, Director of ELL, Bilingual, and Foreign Language Education in Syracuse. “The Blueprint provides concrete guidance for us and a means to evaluate what we are doing against the State’s vision for success.”

The blueprint was developed by SED in collaboration with NYSTESOL, NYSABE, NYSUT and key stakeholders and advocates throughout the State.

The “Blueprint for English Language Learners Success” is available here.