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The state’s public school system is facing one of the fast-growing populations of English language learners (ELLs). Last year, the Migration Policy Institute reported that the first language of more than 70 percent of ELLs in Rhode Island is Spanish, with Creole, Portuguese, Central Khmer and Chinese following in descending order. Yet only 9 percent of ELLs in Rhode Island met or exceeded literacy expectations (PARCC, 2016).

To close the achievement gap for ELLs and to support the need for more ESL teachers, ΢��Ȧ established a program in 2013 with the Central Falls School District to provide teachers with ESL instruction and a pathway to ESL certification. The program offered tuition at a reduced rate and classes in Central Falls to reduce travel time. Approximately 80 Central Falls teachers have completed the program and gone on to become ESL certified. 

Inspired by the ΢��Ȧ/Central Falls model, on Sept. 27, the Rhode Island Foundation, along with state and local education officials, announced a $480,000 initiative to provide 60 additional public school teachers with ESL instruction.

The initiative targets five school districts with the greatest need for ESL educators: Central Falls, Cranston, Pawtucket, Providence and Woonsocket, and consists of 18 months of ESL coursework. Forty teachers will be taught on site by ΢��Ȧ faculty and 20 teachers will be taught through online courses by URI faculty.

Funding will be provided by a $160,000 grant from the Rhode Island Foundation, with an additional $160,000 in partial scholarships from ΢��Ȧ and URI, and another $160,000 through a combined effort by the participating school districts. Teachers will only be responsible for one-third of the tuition.

“Supporting English learners has never been more critical,” said Don Halquist, dean of ΢��Ȧ’s Feinstein School of Education and Human Development. “΢��Ȧ has a long history of preparing ESL teachers and we’re proud to partner with the Rhode Island Foundation and administrators and educators from the five school districts to offer two cohort programs that increase the number of teachers who are certified in English as a second language.”

“Through our courses,” he said, “educators will learn to use research-based and evidence-based practices in instruction, assessment and curriculum to support English language learners and learn how to advocate for culturally and linguistically diverse families.”

΢��Ȧ President Frank D. Sánchez also added that ΢��Ȧ is “committed to addressing the many needs of the 21st-century educational system.” “΢��Ȧ leads the way in overall professional development for educators who are already in the field,” he said, “and our partnership with the Lab in Central Falls prepares our graduates for the classroom and positions them for future employment. Through these efforts, ΢��Ȧ and our partners are raising the bar for the Rhode Island pre-K-12 educational system.”

Sánchez also expressed gratitude to President and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation Neil Steinberg, as well as Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Ken Wagner and Gov. Gina Raimondo, for investing in ESL education. Sánchez stressed the importance of government leadership in education, stating, “The collective support, guidance and investment bolsters existing momentum on this important Rhode Island State ESL initiative.”