On February 18, C&I Faculty from the Second Languages and Cultures Education program area were invited by the chairs of the Education committees in the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives, Representative Carlos Mariani and Senator Patricia Torres Ray to the state capitol to testify to the Joint Senate/House Education Policy Committees hearing on English Language Learners. They discussed two topics:
- U of M language teacher education (ESL, world languages, dual-language and immersion)
- Practices and policies related to immigrant adolescents with limited formal schooling
Associate Professor Diane Tedick and Senior Lecturer Susan Ranney presented on the topic of Preparing Teachers for English Learners, while Associate Professor Martha Bigelow and Dr. Jill Watson (adjunct instructor) presented on challenges and solutions for SLIFE students (Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education).
“The legislators have previously expressed interest and appreciation for the university’s innovative practices in teacher education in our post-baccalaureate licensure programs through the TERI redesign,” said Ranney. “It was an honor for University of Minnesota faculty to be invited to testify along with school superintendents and administrators.”
Other testifiers included Minnesota Department of Education, St. Paul Public Schools, the Bloomington and Willmar Public School Districts. There were approximately 20 representatives and senators in attendance and 90 people in the audience. Testifiers fielded many questions about English learners in public schools and about preparing teachers and administrators to teach English learners from a wide range of backgrounds.
Please visit our Second Languages and Cultures program area page for more information on faculty research and academic programs.
