This month, the Department of Early Learning and the Office
of the Superintendent of Public Instruction convened nearly 30 dual language
learning experts and advocates for a state-wide Brain Trust on Dual Language
Learners (DLLs).
The group included:
- educators,
- parents,
- administrators,
- researchers,
- academics,
- state agency representatives,
- representatives of the philanthropic community, and
- early childhood advocates from some of Washington’s most diverse communities.
Washington State is growing increasingly diverse: in May
2014, approximately 10.5% of children enrolled in Washington public schools were
speaking English as a second language. By 2025, The National Education
Association predicts that nearly one out of every four students will be an
English language learner (OSPI, 2016).
At DEL, we know that the brain science tells us
that children learn language easily when they’re young, and dual language
learners are an asset to our state. However, we recognize that our early
learning system is not well equipped to support these young learners in the
best way possible, and our early learning professionals don’t have the tools
they need to ensure these children thrive.
The Brain Trust convening explored the need for a more
culturally and linguistically responsive system at all levels, including family
and community engagement, classroom practice, professional development,
assessment, and administrative support. Joanne
Knapp-Philo, Ph.D., the former director of the National Center on Cultural and
Linguistic Responsiveness, facilitated the discussion and helped the group understand
this work in the context of other promising efforts around the nation. This
includes the recently released White House policy statement on Supporting
Dual Language Learners in Early Learning Settings. We are excited to join
the federal government in forging new ground to support all of our diverse
students.
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Attendees of the first DEL/OSPI-sponsored Brain Trust on Dual Language Learners pose together for a photo after two days of information sharing and deliberation. |
While this meeting was a major step forward for
prioritizing DLLs across our early childhood education systems we hope to
continue getting input from the field before ultimately deciding on a shared
vision for the state. We hope that, in gathering wisdom from such a wide range
of stakeholders, we can honor the many complexities of this issue while
promoting collaboration at every level.
As one of the most diverse states in the country, Washington
is uniquely poised in the national movement in working to ensure the early
childhood field has the resources and guidance they need to embrace the
cultural and linguistic assets of this large and growing population of
children. As we work to get 90% of kids ready for kindergarten by 2020 and
eliminate race and income as a predictor of that success, celebrating and
supporting the diverse linguistic talents among our children will be one of the
keys to achieving that goal.
Resources:
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (2016). A call for equity and excellence for English
language learners in Washington. Olympia, WA: OSPI Bilingual Education
Advisory Committee. Retrieved from, http://www.k12.wa.us/MigrantBilingual/pubdocs/2016CallToActionPaper.pdf
