ESL-5003

Articles

• In this article, the authors examine California's ELL Roadmap, which comprises four guiding principles: (1) asset-oriented and needs-responsive schools, (2) intellectual quality of instruction and meaningful access, (3) system conditions that support effectiveness, and (4) alignment and articulation within and across systems. The authors discuss how each principle can be leveraged to enhance educational opportunities for ELL students by valuing students' linguistic and cultural assets, ensuring rigorous and accessible instruction, fostering supportive systemic conditions, and promoting coherence across educational levels. They provide actionable suggestions for educators and policymakers to implement these principles, aiming to create transformative changes that offer meaningful learning experiences for ELL students.

• This policy analysis examined 12 Florida school district ESOL policies using ethnographic methods and a priori coding based on culturally responsive practice criteria. Observations and interviews in two schools revealed gaps between policy and practice, with limited CRP implementation, low teacher awareness of policy details, and inadequate professional development. The findings highlight significant concerns for ESOL policymakers and practitioners, emphasizing the need for stronger CRP integration and training to support minority students and their families.

• In this article, the authors juxtapose professional development and educational policy in the context of school reform. Through a content analysis of literature from both fields, they identify two areas of alignment: a shared emphasis on enhancing teacher quality and the recognition that meaningful change requires time. Conversely, they note differences in theoretical foundations and approaches to planning for teacher learning. The authors suggest that successful school reform necessitates a nuanced understanding of both domains, advocating for policies that are informed by effective professional development practices and tailored to the complexities of educational change.

• Parent involvement strategies play a critical role in supporting the successful implementation of an ELL assessment policy by fostering collaboration between schools, families, and communities. This guide offers suggestions for effective parent involvement practices for families of ELL students that may support the implementation of new policies.