By Kathy Chouteau
Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) is teaming up with Californians Together, Sobrato Early Academic Language (SEAL) and Loyola Marymount University’s Center for Equity for English Learners (CEEL) to assist 19 county offices of education in implementing a California English Learner Roadmap Policy.
The county offices of education encompassed within the initiative serve 76.7 percent of California’s English learners.
Powered by a $5 million Educator Workforce Incentive Grant awarded to CEEL by the California Department of Education, the trio will collaborate over the next three years as part of its EL RISE! (English Learner Roadmap Implementation for System Excellence) partnership helping the counties integrate the Roadmap. Ultimately, the Roadmap—which was passed in 2017—is “designed to guide systemic change to improve education for the 1.2 million English learners who attend school in California,” per CCCOE.
In its efforts, EL RISE! will work with the various counties to expand their ability to assist English learners; help Local Education Agencies (LEAs) increase their knowledge and cultivate implementation plans; host educators for professional development; and provide technical assistance and capacity building.
“We are excited to work in partnership with Californians Together and 19 county offices across the state in support of our English Learners,” says Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey. “This joint effort will provide professional development opportunities rooted in research and educational equity, further preparing our English Learners to fully and meaningfully access and participate in a twenty-first century education from early childhood through grade twelve.”
The EL RISE! partners will have teams available to help familiarize counties with the Roadmap and its aforementioned professional development offerings will stretch beyond supporting teachers to also assist leadership. Institutes will also be held for other stakeholders such as parents, board members and higher education faculty, according to CCCOE.
Given that EL RISE! is not only focused on helping educators deliver meaningful instruction to English learners, but also on systemic change, its partners will provide work sessions to help LEAs develop key field resources moving forward.
Collaborating County Offices of Education include: Contra Costa, Kern, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Diego, San Mateo and Riverside (partners); Los Angeles, Tulare, Sacramento/Yolo (anchors); and Butte, Imperial, King, Merced, Orange, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus and Ventura (participating).
For more info, visit CCCOE here.
