Seven research tasks and related projects undertaken by the Center for Language Education and Research (CLEAR) are described in a series of summary reports. For each specific task, an introductory section outlines the background, relevant research, and scope of the task. Subsequent sections contain reports of studies done as part of the task, each written by the project director. The seven tasks (beginning with task 2) include: (1) uncovering new knowledge about improving the academic learning skills of language minority students in the areas of reading, writing, and reasoning skills and as development of those skills relates to the classroom environment; (2) professional development, both preservice and language skills, and language processing in second language learning; (3) the improvement of content of materials, curricula, and programs; (4) the linguistics and metalinguistic underpinnings of academic learning; (5) the scope, structure, and effectiveness of second language instructional programs; (6) second language attrition following immersion and intensive instruction; and (7) relationships between existing models of second language instruction and instruction for language minority students. (MSE)