ERIC Number: ED570870
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Oct
Pages: 48
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
A Critical Mass: Creating Comprehensive Services for Dual Language Learners in Harrisonburg
Garcia, Amaya; Carnock, Janie Tankard
New America
Harrisonburg, Virginia, a community nestled in the fertile hills of the Shenandoah Valley, is emblematic of the demographic changes taking shape in the U.S. for some years now. The town's agricultural industry has attracted a large number of immigrant workers from Central America. In addition, Harrisonburg's refugee resettlement center has drawn many other international families to the area. "A Critical Mass: Creating Comprehensive Services for Dual Language Learners (DLL) in Harrisonburg" explores Harrisonburg City Public Schools' comprehensive system of instructional programs, social-emotional supports, and family engagement strategies targeted to meet the needs of its DLL students. This reports describes how Harrisonburg has implemented multiple initiatives that align with what the research says are best practices for DLLs, including creating Spanish-English dual immersion programs to help DLLs become bilingual and biliterate. The district also has differentiated services for DLL students who are new to the U.S. to help foster their integration and accelerate their English language acquisition. This report shares several lessons for other localities seeking to enhance and reform services for their DLLs that include: (1) Investing to expand DLL access to early childhood education programs; (2) Creating welcome centers, hiring liaisons, and building partnerships to increase family engagement in schools; (3) Differentiating programs to meet the diverse needs of DLLs; (4) Preparing all teachers to work effectively with DLLs; (5) Exploring strategies to increase collaboration among schools; and (6) Incorporating DLL needs at the outset of all policy formulation and reformulation.
Descriptors: Agricultural Laborers, Refugees, Land Settlement, Immigrants, Second Language Learning, English (Second Language), Immersion Programs, Spanish, Bilingualism, Best Practices, Teaching Methods, Social Support Groups, Social Integration, Partnerships in Education, Early Childhood Education, Access to Education, Teacher Education, Institutional Cooperation, Policy Formation, Educational Policy, Family School Relationship
New America. 740 15th Street NW Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005. Tel: 202-986-2700; Fax: 202-986-3696; Web site: http://www.newamerica.org
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Heising-Simons Foundation; McKnight Foundation
Authoring Institution: New America
Identifiers - Location: Virginia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A