Curriculum and Instruction Associate Professor Martha Bigelow (Second Languages and Cultures) was recently quoted on Minnesota Public Radio for the story, “Dayton wants to boost funding for English language learning.”
The story discusses the financial aspects of funding additional resources for students learning English in Minnesota Schools. English language learners currently make up 8 percent of the state’s enrollment, and some students come in with little to no formal school experiences. Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton would like to extend English learning support for these students from five years to seven.
In the story, Bigelow suggests, “The longer time frame really does recognize that we have English learners in our state without prior schooling, with different needs … Maybe they’re long-term English learners and need different support.”

Listen to the story or read the accompanying article here.