FEATURED NEWS

February 23, 2021 | Language Magazine

Sunday’s celebration of International Mother Language Day, the UN’s annual commemoration honoring linguistic diversity and multilingualism, focused on inclusion, both in the classroom and in society. “Fostering the use of the mother tongue means, precisely, at the same time fostering access to education for all, as well as the dissemination of cultures in all their diversity. The theme of the Day this year, ‘Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society,’ thus encourages us to support multilingualism and the use of mother tongues, both at school and in everyday life,” UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay said in her message for the Day.

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February 22, 2021 | Chalkbeat

The Biden administration said Monday that states must administer federally required standardized tests this year, but schools won’t be held accountable for the results — and states could give shorter, remote, or delayed versions of the exams.

The decision means that schools will have to find ways to safely administer tests to tens of millions of students, many of whom are still learning remotely. It’s the first high-stakes decision for the Biden education department, coming even before its secretary of education nominee has been confirmed, and a signal that the new administration sees test score data as part of its strategy for helping students recover from the pandemic.

“To be successful once schools have re-opened, we need to understand the impact COVID-19 has had on learning and identify what resources and supports students need,” Ian Rosenblum, acting assistant education secretary, wrote in a letter to state education leaders.

February 19, 2021 | Edsource


California school data doesn’t paint a full picture of English learners. It’s more like a sketch.

That’s according to a new report by Californians Together, a nonprofit organization that researches and advocates for students who speak a language other than English at home. These students make up about 2.4 million students in the state — 2 out of 5 students.

The report, which is supported by several other partner organizations, says the state’s school accountability tool, the California School Dashboard, makes it too easy for districts to receive high scores for English learners’ progress, because it sets too low a percentage for how many students should be progressing in proficiency each year, and because it lumps students still learning English together with those who have achieved fluency.

“Right now very few districts have the urgency to focus on their English learners based on the dashboard,” said Martha Hernandez, executive director of Californians Together.
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COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Date: March 1, 2021

Motivating students is a challenge for the most effective and experienced teachers, even in the best of times. But the past year has been anything but the best of times. How can principals and teachers help boost students’ and their own morale through the home stretch of the 2020-21 school year? Join Education Week Assistant Editor Alyson Klein and her expert guests for practical tips and discussion on how to keep students and teachers motivated as the pandemic drags on. The webinar will feature exclusive survey data on student and teacher motivation from the EdWeek Research Center that was recently featured in a special report titled “Keeping Students and Teachers Motivated and Engaged.”


Date: March 4, 2021

Since March 1, 1961, when President John F. Kennedy signed the executive order to establish the Peace Corps, more than 235,000 Americans have served in 141 countries. Now sixty years later, the Peace Corps is at a critical crossroads. Facing the coronavirus pandemic, the agency evacuated all volunteers in March 2020 and is just now restarting operations in some countries. This pivotal moment allows us to look back on sixty years of promoting world peace and friendship, while also looking forward to the next chapter of Peace Corps history. On March 4, The Smithsonian Folklore Festival invites you to envision to the future of the PeaceCorps in a conversation with prominent Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, including the agency’s acting director, Carol Spahn.

PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Deadline to register: March 4, 2021

The National Chinese Language Conference (NCLC) is a global community of over 2,800 PK-16 Chinese language teachers and education leaders. At its core, NCLC provides a platform for you to learn, engage, and support like-minded educators, as we shape the future of Chinese language education and cultivate multilingual young leaders. Join Asia Society and other organizations for a three-day interactive digital experience for Chinese language teachers & education leaders. Throughout the conference, you will hear inspiring Plenaries, connect in the Tea x Conversation Video Networking, and engage in interactive breakout sessions.  


Date: June 1st - June 4th, 2021

Join the NAFSA: Association of International Educators at the most important event for our global community of international educators. Discover the latest innovations, new strategies, and best practices in the field. Establish and strengthen your institutional partnerships as we come together virtually this year to “think big” about the future of international education.

Attend sessions developed by your peers, international education leaders, and changemakers from more than 100 countries. Connect with fellow attendees and cultivate a network essential to your professional success. Explore the NAFSA 2021 theme, “Designing Our Shared Future,” which focuses on how international educators design new ways to engage our global community in building bridges and responding to the needs of the next generation.

FEDERAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH, 2021 ISSUE
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