RWCFS Dual Language Learner Plan Supporting School Readiness

 Requires that programs support a child’s progress towards the acquisition of English as well as progress across other domains of learning and development, including progress made through the use of culturally and linguistically appropriate instructional services - Office of Head Start Historical Overview of Head Start’s Support for Children and Families Who Speak Languages Other Than English vices

Plans must outline how RWCFS will meet the needs of limited English proficient families by:  Including procedures to identify such children,  Provide trained personnel,  Provide services to assist the children in making progress toward the acquisition of the English language, while making meaningful progress in attaining the knowledge, skills, abilities, and development described in section 641A(a)(1)(B);  Meet the diverse needs of the population

According to the Program Instrument Report numbers for PY as of 3/27/12: Head Start - Out of 403 families who reported, 101 speak Spanish Early Head Start - Out of 205 families who reported, 30 speak Spanish Also: 2 families report ASL 1 European and 14 unspecified

Early Childhood Education Brief Second Language Development 10 Essential Research Findings

 Professional Development  Program Administration  Health, Nutrition and Mental Health  Early Education and Care including strategies to support home and school learning environments and assessment practices  Parent Involvement/Family Engagement  Family services  Specific to Early Head Start

 Committee began meeting 8/4/2010  Completed Program Preparedness Checklist  Committee looked at and collected many resources  Purchased electronic transmitter for translation  Diversity training January intro to DLL plan  DLL myths/facts – research training January 2012  Completed plan draft minus assessment section  Supported development of system to utilize skills of bilingual staff

 Support PC/BOD understanding of need for and importance of DLL plan  Add assessment section to DLL policy and procedure/plan draft/finalize draft  Seek PC BOD Approval  Provide guidance for hiring practices  Continue to support refinement of system for using skills of bilingual staff and support finding other community bilingual support  Continue to provide training  Complete Language Development Profiles for DLL students

 Escamilla, Kathy. Early Childhood Education Brief: Second Language Development, 10 Essential Research Findings. BUENO Center, University of Colorado at Boulder [PDF, 3.78MB].Early Childhood Education Brief: Second Language Development, 10 Essential Research Findings.  Genesee, Fred. "Keynote Address: Myths & Realities about Dual Language Learning, Fred Genesee." Office of Head Start Dual Language Institute. October , [PDF, 3.4MB].Keynote Address: Myths & Realities about Dual Language Learning, Fred Genesee  Hammer, Carol. "Keynote Address: Assessing Young Dual Language Learners—What You Need to Know and Why, Carol Scheffner Hammer." Office of Head Start Dual Language Institute. October , 2008.Keynote Address: Assessing Young Dual Language Learners—What You Need to Know and Why, Carol Scheffner Hammer  Kuhl, Patricia. Bilingualism is Good Brain Exercise for Kids (and Adults). Kuhl, Patricia. NBC News/Education Nation's The Learning Curve Blog [PDF, 66KB].Bilingualism is Good Brain Exercise for Kids (and Adults)