Supporting Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE): A Comprehensive Approach
Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE) are English learners who bring a wealth of diverse experiences, cultural knowledge, and resilience to classrooms. While they may have experienced interruptions in formal schooling, students identified as SLIFE often demonstrate remarkable adaptability, problem-solving skills, and multilingual capabilities.
While AIR’s SLIFE work is centered in Massachusetts, we work across the country to actively engage educators, policymakers, and researchers. Our initiatives contribute to the development of instructional practices, tools, and policies that can benefit SLIFE nationwide, as approaches to SLIFE education evolve.
AIR's SLIFE Support Ecosystem
AIR, in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Region 1 Comprehensive Center (R1CC), has developed a dynamic ecosystem of four interconnected initiatives to address the growing needs of SLIFE:
- SLIFE Community of Practice: A thriving network of educators sharing best practices and experiences.
- SLIFE Guidance: Comprehensive, user-friendly guidance for identifying and supporting SLIFE.
- SLIFE Toolkit: A companion resource offering practical implementation tools.
- SLIFE Research Project: A new study on emerging promising practices.
These initiatives are complementary: the CoP informs research and tests guidance in real-world settings; research findings shape guidance and CoP discussions; and guidance documents frame CoP activities and research dissemination. Together, they create a robust support system for SLIFE education. Learn more about each initiative below.
1. Massachusetts SLIFE Community of Practice (CoP)
This CoP has been extremely helpful. Having a group of experienced and available educators has been wonderful.
- Educator in Western Massachusetts
Our thriving CoP, launched in 2022, has grown to over 50 participating Massachusetts school districts. This professional learning community brings together educators to share ideas, resources, and experiences in a supportive, non-evaluative environment.
Key features of the SLIFE CoP include:
- Virtual meetings and in-person convenings;
- School site visits for peer learning;
- Leadership roundtables; and
- Professional learning, technical assistance, and coaching.
2. SLIFE Guidance
We've created comprehensive, user-friendly guidance to help educators identify, support, and empower SLIFE. This document provides practical tools, instructional strategies, and program models tailored to SLIFE needs.
Key features of SLIFE guidance include:
- A holistic four-step process for SLIFE identification, services, and support;
- Asset-based, linguistically and culturally responsive approaches;
- Flexible and adaptable strategies for programs serving SLIFE in various district contexts; and
- Promising instructional strategies, tools, templates, and vignettes, such as:
3. SLIFE Toolkit
The SLIFE toolkit serves as a companion resource to the guidance, offering practical tools and strategies to support implementation. It contains over 100 SLIFE-specific resources designed to help educators effectively apply the guidance in their classrooms and schools.
4. SLIFE Research Project: Advancing Knowledge and Practice (coming December 2024)
In a field with limited research, this project aims to identify and summarize promising practices in SLIFE education across diverse contexts. Our qualitative study combines academic research with real-world insights from the field. By bridging the gap between research and practice, we aim to improve educational outcomes for SLIFE and inform more inclusive educational policies nationwide.
Key components:
- Literature review: Targeted synthesis of existing research on SLIFE education.
- Educator surveys and interviews: Insights from those working directly with SLIFE.
- Field-based case studies: Examinations of promising SLIFE practices across Massachusetts.
AIR Services Related to SLIFE Education
By combining research, practitioner expertise, and responsive tools and guidance, we're building a comprehensive support system for SLIFE. Our goal is to ensure that all students identified as SLIFE, regardless of their background or circumstances, have the opportunity to thrive in their new educational environments.
Learn more about this important work as we continue to innovate, collaborate, and advocate for SLIFE across Massachusetts and beyond.
Our services include:
- Professional learning:
- Guidance on implementing asset-based approaches in SLIFE education;
- Training on the four-step process for SLIFE identification, services, and support; and
- Collaborative learning opportunities through Communities of Practice.
- Technical assistance for state and local leaders: Needs assessment, evaluation, strategic planning, and tailored professional learning series or systems.
