Supporting Expansion and Equitable Access to Dual Language Immersion: Lessons from States

Wednesday February 19, 2025
2:45 - 3:45 PM
Ballroom F

There are numerous documented benefits for English learners who are multilingual and biliterate, leading many states to focus on expanding their multilingual or dual language immersion (DLI) programs. However, such expansions come with challenges including shortages of bilingual educators, identifying appropriate curricula and assessments, and ensuring equitable access for English Learner students. With a focus on improvement, presenters will share findings and best practices for those aiming to enhance and expand access to DLI programs in their context. A leader from the Region 15 Comprehensive Center at WestEd will share findings from a research scan focused on what we know about DLI implementation and how well this research reflects the national context. State leaders from Massachusetts, New York, and Utah will share lessons learned from their state’s efforts to expand access to DLI programs, including examples of challenges and successes at local educational agencies and schools.

Presenters
Elisa Alvarez

Associate Commissioner Elisa Alvarez directs all NYSED efforts to support Dual Language Immersion as a key means to ensure that all New York State students’ educational paths and socio-emotional needs are met in multiple languages. As a former superintendent who oversaw multiple DLI programs, Ms. Alvarez has witnessed first-hand their ability to allow students to be seen and heard, to gain an understanding of and responsibility to their fellow students regardless of background, and to make schools a welcoming environment for linguistically diverse students.
Allison Balter

Allison Balter is the Director of the Office of Language Acquisition at MA DESE where she oversees programming and policy for English learner and multilingual education, including dual language and bilingual education and the Seal of Biliteracy. Her team supports the implementation of the LOOK Act, which ended nearly two decades of English-only education in MA, by supporting districts to expand multilingual education through seed grants, technical assistance, bilingual leadership networks, and development of guidance and resources. This year she has overseen a comprehensive landscape analysis of bilingual education across the Commonwealth and participated as co-PI in the IES-funded study “Does Expansion of Bilingual Programming Support Equitable Access for Multilingual Learners?: An Examination of LOOK Act Implementation in Massachusetts.”
Karl Bowman

Karl taught Spanish Immersion in Alpine School District and was a principal of immersion schools for 22 years. Currently, Karl is the World Languages and Dual Language Immersion Specialist for the Utah State Board of Education, a position he has held for the past seven years. In this role, he has been instrumental in promoting the Utah Dual Language Immersion Model to audiences at the state, national, and international levels.
Kate Wright

Kate Wright previously served as the Deputy Associate Superintendent of the Office of English Language Acquisition Services at the Arizona Department of Education, where she oversaw all statewide language instruction educational programs, including Dual Language Immersion.
type:
Hybrid Lecture
theme:
Instruction
audience:
Building Leaders
tags:
English Learners, Program Implementation and Evaluation