Recommended Educational Practices for Standard English Learners Cheryl Wilkinson, Jeremy Miciak, Celeste Alexander, Pedro Reyes, Jessica Brown, and Matt Giani The University of Texas at Austin: Texas Education Research Center January 31, 2011 T HE U NIVERSITY OF T E X A S A T A USTIN i Recommended Practices for SELs CREDITS The Texas Education Research Center is located at The University of Texas at Austin. The Texas ERC is an independent, non-partisan, and non-profit organization focused on generating data-based solutions for Texas education and workforce demands. The goal of the Texas ERC is to supply policymakers, opinion leaders, the media, and the general public with academically sound research surrounding today's critical education issues. Texas Education Research Center The University of Texas at Austin Department of Educational Administration, SZB 310 Austin, TX 78712 Phone: (512) 471-4528 Fax: (512) 471-5975 Website: www.utaustinERC.org Contributing Authors Cheryl Wilkinson, Jeremy Miciak, Celeste Alexander, Pedro Reyes, Jay Brown, Matt Giani, Carolyn Adger, and Jeffery Reaser Prepared for Texas Education Agency 1701 North Congress Avenue Austin, Texas 78701‐1494 Phone: 512‐463‐9734 Funded by The evaluation is funded through General Appropriations Act (GAA), Senate Bill No. 1, Rider 42 (81st Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2009), via Texas Education Agency Contract No: 2501. ii Recommended Practices for SELs COPYRIGHT NOTICE Copyright © Notice: The materials are copyrighted © as the property of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of TEA, except under the following conditions: 1. 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The conclusions of this research conducted by Texas Education Research Center do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official position of the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, or the State of Texas. iii Recommended Practices for SELs This page intentionally left blank. iv Recommended Practices for SELs Table of Contents Glossary of Acronyms ................................................................................................................. viii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................. ix Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ ix Defining “Second Dialects of English Speakers” ....................................................................................... ix Standard English Learners in Texas ................................................................................................................ x Lack of Educational Services for SELs .......................................................................................................... xi Study Description and Methodology .................................................................................................. xi Objective 1 ............................................................................................................................................................... xi Objective 2 .............................................................................................................................................................. xii Objective 3 .............................................................................................................................................................. xii Objective 4 .............................................................................................................................................................. xii Literature Review Findings .................................................................................................................. xii Expert Panel Recommendations ....................................................................................................... xiv Rationale for Action ........................................................................................................................................... xiv Best Practices ......................................................................................................................................................... xv Recommendations for Achieving Best Practice in Texas..................................................................... xv Conclusions and Next Steps ............................................................................................................... xvii Recommendations for Future Research ................................................................................................. xviii Policy Implications ............................................................................................................................................. xix RECOMMENDED EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES FOR STANDARD ENGLISH LEARNERS 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 1 Defining “Second Dialects of English Speakers” .............................................................................. 1 Standard English Learners in Texas .................................................................................................... 3 Racial/Ethnic and Regional Composition .................................................................................................... 3 The Texas Education System ............................................................................................................................. 4 The Texas Education System for SELs ........................................................................................................... 4 STUDY DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................................................ 5 Objective 1 .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Objective 2 .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Objective 3 .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Objective 4 .................................................................................................................................................... 5 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................................... 6 Best Practices Literature ......................................................................................................................... 6 Texas’ and Other States’ Approaches to Instruction for SELs .................................................... 6 Professional Development Priorities ................................................................................................. 6 Expert Panel Review Methodology ...................................................................................................... 7 Panel Meeting and Follow-up Procedures ................................................................................................... 7 LITERATURE REVIEW FINDINGS ............................................................................................... 8 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 8 Rationale for Action .............................................................................................................................................. 8 Language Varieties ................................................................................................................................................ 9 Language Varieties and Academic Achievement ......................................................................... 10