Research by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has shown that the majority of English language learners (ELLs) who entered Massachusetts public schools in kindergarten were reclassified within three years; however, most still struggled with reading and math in later grades. AIR conducted research and analysis on Massachusetts ...
Jessica Heppen, a nationally recognized expert in education research, policy, and practice, is the president & CEO of AIR. Dr. Heppen been with AIR for 20 years and, in that time, has held several key roles during her tenure.
More than 40 percent of the 1.8 million adults served by the national adult education program are English language learners (ELLs). Often, these learners begin with English as a second language classes and then transition to adult basic or adult secondary programming to further their academic skills. In 2008–2011, AIR ...
Project RISE (Realizing Internationals Supports for English Language Learners) aims to improve the educational outcomes of English language learners (ELLs) in Grades 9–12 in two schools identified as persistently low performing by changing teachers’ instructional practices and several key structures in which students and teachers are organized. AIR is providing ...
Mastering math and the academic language of math is essential for all students, but especially for English Learners, who are acquiring content knowledge and English proficiency concurrently. The goal of The first two years of the study Project MELD was to enable sixth-grade Spanish-speaking ELs to acquire the skills and ...
Supporting the mission to provide targeted support for English Learmers, the Midwest Comprehensive Center worked with the Minnesota Department of Education on a cultural competency project. The project had two primary goals: 1) Conduct a listening tour of agency staff to inform recommendations on developing cultural competency within MDE so ...
In the late 1990s, Adult Basic Education was undervalued and overlooked compared to other federally funded education programs. To demonstrate the effectiveness and impact of these services, the U.S. Department of Education developed an accountability framework, focused on data quality and program improvement. Through six projects spanning 20 years, AIR ...
The TELL project is a review of literature and critical annotated bibliography to provide an overview and critique of the research related to the transition of English language learners.
On November 18, 2020 the Center for English Learners at AIR hosted a webinar, Cultivating Oral Language and Literacy Talent in Students, about supporting language and literacy for young dual language learners (DLLs). The webinar presented findings from a recent study focused on supporting preschool DLLs. ...
As the U.S. Department of Education prepares to mandate a more “equitable distribution” of teachers (as excellent educators are encouraged or forced to go from one school to another), what is the best path forward? Join AIR and the Fordham Institute on Feb. 20, 2014 for a debate on the ...