2007 ESL Conference
Multiple Cultures, Multiple Voices: Effectively Educating All Children
On June 18-20, 2007, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg sponsored the statewide English as a Second Language (ESL) conference entitled Multiple Cultures, Multiple Voices: Effectively Educating All Children.
This three day conference offered research-based tools, strategies and resources that strengthen the education of English language learners through cross-system programs, services and partnerships. This learning opportunity provided information and resources to assist and support local systemic reform efforts that emphasize academic achievement, school accountability, professional training and parental involvement.
Drawing upon cutting-edge research, a research symposium entitled Making the Right Investments: Strengthening the Education of English Language and Bilingual Learners was held in conjunction with the conference. This symposium brought together national and state experts to explore how public systems can become more culturally responsive, implement approaches that strengthen and support educational programming for culturally and linguistically diverse students, and identify strategies to secure funding that are essential to student success. A publication of symposium proceedings was developed following this event.
Over 350 people, representing school districts, intermediate units and a broad range of organizations, attended the conference and symposium that was held at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg East, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
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Download the conference agenda booklet (20 pages) (PDF format) |
Conference Resources (PDF format)
2007 ESL Conference Resource List
Traducelo Ahora Information Sheet
The Bilingual Family Newsletter
Test Evaluation Checklist (TEC) - The Test Evaluation Checklist (TEC) is a tool for evaluating standardized assessment instruments for use with culturally and linguistically diverse learners. It will assist with selecting appropriate instruments and procedures. TEC is based upon research cited in Educating Minority Handicapped Students (Hoover & Collier, 1988) and Separating Difference from Disabilities: Assessing Diverse Learners (Collier, 2004). The TEC should be used with any instrument or procedure proposed for use in the identification of diverse learners with learning and behavior problems.
Conference Proceedings
Presentation slides and other materials are being made available in PDF format.
Additionally, a number of the sessions were recorded and the full-length audio recordings are available from this site in MP3 format. Listen at your desk using your computer's media player such as Windows Media Player, Real Player or Quicktime or download to your favorite portable MP3 player to listen on the go.
Click on one of the categories below to view the highlights and proceedings: