January 12, 2023

Region 4

Multilingual Learner Leadership Network (MLLN) Newsletter

Important Updates

Inaugural Region 4 ML Leadership Institute

Region 4 MLLN is thrilled to bring you this FREE virtual 1-day regional conference: Improving Systems and Outcomes for Multilingual Learners. All district and site administrators, coaches, and other school leaders who are interested in learning more about strengthening programs and services for multilingual learners are welcome to attend.

Date: Thursday, January 26, 2023

Time: 8am-3pm

Speakers include:

Dr. Ivannia Soto (Shadowing Multilingual Learners)
Dr. Elvira Armas (EL Master Plan Playbook)
Dr. Steven Dorsey (Leadership and Equity)
Esteemed colleagues from local districts around the region who will share about practices and programs they have implemented that amplify student voice, lead with a language focus, or enact the principles of the EL Roadmap

See website for registration information and description of sessions. Whether you are joining us for all or part of the day, we look forward to seeing you!

ELPAC Updates

ELPAC Testing Windows

A reminder that the Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC testing window is from February 1 through May 31, 2023. The Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC testing window remains open through June 30, 2023. The testing window for the California Spanish Assessment is open from January 10 through July 17, 2023 or the end of the LEA's instructional calendar, whichever comes first.

Checklists for LEA and Site ELPAC Coordinators are available on the Manuals and Instructions or on the ELPAC Resources webpages. Training modules can be accessed through the Moodle Training Site. For new ELPAC coordinators or those who want a refresher, training and webinar offerings can be found on the Upcoming Training Opportunities webpage.

California Spanish Assessment Development

CDE is looking for educators of students in grade seven through high school who are bilingual and biliterate in Spanish to participate in the continued development of the California Spanish Assessment (CSA). The kick-off meeting will take place on 3/13/23, from 4-7pm. Between March 23-28, participants will complete approximately one hour of preparation and 24 hours of independent item review work. They will examine items for use in future administrations of the CSA for content and potential bias and sensitivity concerns. A final meeting will take place the following month, on 4/5/23. To apply, please contact the CAASPP Project Team by phone at 916-228-2682 or by email at edopportunities@scoe.net.

OPTEL

CDE is continuing to look for K-12 teachers of EL students of all English proficiency levels to field-test California’s new Observation Protocol for Teachers of English Learners (OPTEL). If you are interested in field-testing the OPTEL, please see the flyer and complete the OPTEL Field Test Interest List form. The field test is scheduled to begin in January 2023. Participating teachers will watch a short online training video, pair up with another teacher to identify and observe 8 EL students, and submit rating and responses in a brief online survey. it is a great way to learn about the new OPTEL which focuses on language use in the classroom and has been developed to:

• Provide evidence that contributes to determining readiness for reclassification.

• Determine English learners’ progress.

• Inform immediate instructional decisions that advance student learning (formative assessment).

• Be used to communicate with parents and inform institutions of higher education with teacher preparation programs.

The OPTEL is further described on the CDE OPTEL webpage which has an updated timeline for when the final OPTEL is anticipated to be approved and released.

State Seal of Biliteracy and University Seal of Biliteracy

The State Seal of Biliteracy data for the 2021–22 school year is now available on the CDE State Seal of Biliteracy webpage. Resources to share with students and parents, including posters, bookmarks, flyers, and presentation slides, are also available on the State Seal of Biliteracy webpage under the “Resources” tab.

The SDSU University Seal of Biliteracy and Cultural Competence is a new recognition for university students who continue to develop their biliteracy and cultural competence during college. This digital badge is awarded to students who participate in a cultural and linguistic immersion experience and demonstrate proficiency in a world language other than English through a standardized assessment of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. This recognition is an example of principle four of the EL Roadmap Policy in action, demonstrating alignment and articulation across the prekindergarten through grade 12 (PK–12) and postsecondary systems. The University Seal of Biliteracy and Cultural Competence continues to grow the path to biliteracy that begins in preschool through grade 8 with the Biliteracy Pathway Recognitions and continues with the State Seal of Biliteracy in high school. For more information on the University Seal of Biliteracy and Cultural Competence, visit the SDSU University Seal of Biliteracy and Cultural Competence webpage.

“Escribo en español”

The CDE and the Education Office of the Consulate of Spain invite California public school students who are studying Spanish to participate in the “Escribo en español” 2022–23 Literary Contest. This contest includes categories for Spanish speakers and non-Spanish speakers in grades 3 through 11. This year’s topic is “Una experiencia inolvidable.” Students must focus on the topic and write an essay or a poem in Spanish about their thoughts, suggestions, perceptions and ideas in a clear, appealing, and grammatically correct manner.

The first-place winner in the grade 9–11 categories and the Spanish teacher responsible for the student will receive a 2-week full scholarship for a language course in Spain during summer 2023. For more information about this program including a flyer in English and Spanish, please visit the Gobierno de España Estados Unidos Concurso literario webpage or view the promotional video.

DataQuest

The following data are now publicly available on the CDE DataQuest website:

2021–22 Long-Term English Learner and Ever-EL Reports

- "At-Risk" and Long-Term English Learners (LTEL) by Grade

- "Ever-ELs" by Years as EL and Reclassification (RFEP) Status and Grade

Navigate to the  DataQuest Homepage to access the DataQuest reports included in this release or access them via the Data Reports by Topic webpage. CDE is also providing downloadable data files for the above reports which can be found on the Downloadable Data Files by Topic webpage.

The CDE is currently working on the following data reports and downloadable files:

2021–22 Graduate Counts (downloadable file only)

2021–22 Transitional Kindergarten Participation Data

2022–23 Annual Enrollment, English Learner, and Free and Reduced-Price Meals Data

2022–23 CALPADS Unduplicated Pupil Count (UPC) (downloadable file only)

New reports in upcoming Data Releases include:

- Annual Reclassified Fluent English Proficient (RFEP) Counts and Rates (multiple years)

- Staff Demographic, Experience, and Education Data (multiple years)

- Students with Disabilities Data (multiple years)

More information can be found in the DataQuest Update , Issue #14.

Focus Group to Support Multilingual Preschoolers

CDE is inviting preschool and TK teachers, family child care providers, coaches and trainers, site supervisors, and directors to share feedback on the revisions of the Preschool Learning Foundations (PLF). Revisions are based on suggestions from focus groups, recent research in the field, and best practices to support equity, multilingual learners, and the inclusion of children with disabilities. This is an opportunity to shape the next iteration of the PLF. Join fellow educators and practitioners in virtual focus groups in January 2023 (about 1 hour and 15 minutes) to share feedback on the revised foundations for the remaining domains: Approaches to Learning, Social-Emotional Development, History & Social Science, Math, Science, and Language & Literacy. Please fill out an interest form if you are interested in participating. Different sessions will focus on different domains; you will be able to indicate the sessions that meet your availability and interest. Those selected for a focus group will receive a $50 stipend as compensation for participating.