Latest news with #EnglishasaSecondLanguage
02-07-2025
- Politics
Trump administration pauses $6B in education programs ahead of school year
President Donald Trump's administration is pausing over $6 billion of congressionally-appropriated federal funding for after-school, student support, teacher training, English language and other education programs, according to a Department of Education memo obtained by ABC News. In a letter to Congress from the agency's office of legislation and congressional affairs Monday afternoon, the DOE said a notification would be sent to certain grantees alerting them that funding for the upcoming school year would be reviewed on July 1 and decisions concerning this academic year have "not yet been made." "The department will not be issuing grant award notifications obligating funds for these programs on July 1 prior to completing that review," the memo reads in part. "The department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the president's priorities and the department's statutory responsibilities." The statutorily mandated special education funding through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) have been awarded to states on time, according to a DOE source. But school budgets for the year are typically approved in May or June and are ready to be allocated by July 1, according to education finance experts. The abrupt messaging from the administration gave scant details on how the key programs would be impacted moving forward and comes just weeks before many state education agencies return students to the classroom. The 2024 National Teacher of the Year Missy Testerman, an English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor in Tennessee, told ABC News any withholding of funds will affect schools. "School budgets are already very tight, so withholding funds for required programs -- such as those for English learners -- will certainly place a burden on school systems," Testerman wrote in a statement to ABC News. "This likely will mean that systems will face the difficult decision to make budget cuts in other areas, affecting students. In rural systems like mine, this could mean a reduction in overall staff or the elimination of crucial supports for students such as afterschool and tutoring programs," Testerman added. House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., called the move to withhold the appropriated funds a violation of federal law with potentially devastating consequences. "The halting of these critical funds harms the students, educators, and schools that strive to provide quality public education with the meager funds and challenges they face," Scott wrote in a statement to ABC News. "Cash-strapped school districts, particularly those in low-income and rural areas, cannot afford this delay and will likely be forced to either lay off staff or cut back on programs and services while the White House Office of Budget and Management 'reviews' the funding," Scott said. State attorneys general are expected to sue the administration over the reviews, according to a source familiar with the matter. Parents groups and education advocates decrying the decision are also mounting lawsuits against the administration, the source confirmed. Advocates accuse the administration of undermining public education in a "cruel betrayal" of students. "Schools are already grappling with severe teacher shortages, burnout and under-resourced classrooms, and here comes the federal government ripping resources away from public schools. It is outrageous and unconscionable," said National Education Association President Becky Pringle. "Educators and parents will not be silent while students are undervalued, unheard and unsupported," Pringle wrote in a statement, adding, "We will stand up, speak out and take action to ensure every classroom is a place of dignity, opportunity and respect." Education providers are sounding the alarm about the funding that impacts millions of students, teachers, and families, telling ABC News they fear that low-income students and families will be left in a bind with no other options of care for their children. The Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit organization, said, "If these funds are not released very soon, we will quickly see more children and youth unsupervised and at risk, more academic failures, more hungry kids, more chronic absenteeism, higher dropout rates, more parents forced out of their jobs, and a less STEM-ready and successful workforce as our child care crisis worsens dramatically." The pause comes as efforts to dismantle the Department of Education have been blocked by lower courts. The Supreme Court is also expected to weigh in on the firing of nearly 2,000 employees at the agency. The DOE referred additional questions to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). An OMB spokesman told ABC News the pause is due to an "ongoing programmatic review" of education funding, adding no decisions have been made yet. Many of the programs "grossly misused" government funds to promote a "radical leftwing agenda," the OMB spokesperson added. In some cases, the programs allegedly promote illegal immigration advocacy and queer resistance in the arts, according to the spokesman.
The Star
08-06-2025
- General
- The Star
Shaping tomorrow's leaders in communication
Communication is the essence of human connection. It connects cultures, builds relationships and facilitates the expression of one's ideas clearly. It is essential for meaningful engagement in any context. But effective communication is more than just words—it encompasses adaptability, cultural awareness and empathy. These skills are nurtured through purposeful learning. At University of Cyberjaya (UoC), its Faculty of Psychology and Social Sciences offers three programmes that develop individuals in these components: Early Childhood Education, Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) and Mass Communications. These programmes form a cohesive educational journey that shows how effective communication empowers individuals to contribute meaningfully to local and global communities. Building a child's foundation UoC's ECE programmes provide extensive practical experience through immersive internships and hands-on training in fully equipped educational settings. Compassionate educators are indispensable in a child's formative years. They create safe, supportive environments that encourage self-expression and build the confidence needed for strong communication skills. UoC's Early Childhood Education (ECE) Diploma and Degree programmes are designed to develop these educators through a holistic curriculum encompassing classroom simulations and real-world training such as internships. The curriculum ensures students develop skills such as leadership, problem-solving and effective teaching methods to help them tackle real-world challenges involving the learning of children. Bridging through language UoC's TESL programme combines linguistic theory with practical classroom teaching experiences to produce highly competent, culturally sensitive educators. English is central to much of daily communication, serving as a shared language that bridges cultures and enables the exchange of ideas—even when it is a second language for many. Mastering its nuances not only improves language skills but also deepens understanding of the people and cultures involved. But acquiring a second language can be challenging for some. Without support, it may limit one's ability to communicate effectively, leading to missed opportunities and strained relationships. UoC's Bachelor of Education (Honours) in TESL programme equips aspiring educators the skills to teach non-native speakers English with clarity, confidence and cultural sensitivity. With a robust curriculum covering linguistics, curriculum design, assessment and classroom management, the programme blends theory with practical teaching experiences to prepare graduates for careers in education, content development and translation, catering to the linguistic needs of people from various backgrounds. Voices that influence In a fast-paced, content-driven world, media is capable of reaching larger audiences with greater impact than ever – the ability to contribute to social dialogue, shape public perception and drive change beyond borders. UoC's Mass Communications programmes prepare students for careers in media, public relations, broadcasting and digital content to become global communicators with purpose. Taught by industry professionals, its curriculum combines practical training with strategic communication theory, cultivating media-savvy professionals who can lead in a dynamic global landscape. Students benefit from state-of-the-art multimedia labs and broadcast studios to gain hands-on learning experience. Discover your voice Explore UoC's campus and state-of-the-art facilities during its Open Day from June 14 to 15 or June 21 to 22. Begin your journey of becoming a skilled global communicator with UoC's programmes today. For more details, visit their official website or chat with their education counsellors via WhatsApp at 011-1112 3344 or email studywithus@ to learn more about scholarships and entry requirements.
The Age
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
$400 student bonus cut, but these schools won sought-after upgrades
Families will have to do without the universally available $400 School Saving Bonus as the government takes a more targeted approach to cost-of-living relief. With more than a third of the $282 million allocated to the scheme this year still unspent, the government will instead put $318 million over the next four years towards free public transport for under 18s, in a move that will save families $755 on the annual cost of a student transport pass. The direct support effort, outlined in Tuesday's state budget, will shift to disadvantaged school families. Healthcare- or concession-card holding parents will be entitled to $400 per secondary student and $256 per primary-aged child next year to pay for camps, sports and excursions, in a move set to cost $152 million over the next four years. Families with children at school have borne the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis, with education costs far outstripping every other area of household spending in the key CPI inflation measure since 2021, with schooling and associated costs soaring by 25 per in those four years. There will be an extra 65,000 'get active kids vouchers' made available at a cost of $15 million, giving eligible families $200 to cover the price of sports registrations, memberships, clothing or equipment. Other big-spending education budget items include $320 million to continue the disability inclusion program in government schools and $33 million next financial year for transport to specialist government schools, including new routes. Students from non-English-speaking households will benefit from $56 million to be spent in the next two years, including more children in the English as a Second Language program.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chicago Teachers Union members overwhelmingly ratify new contract with CPS
The Brief The Chicago Teachers Union members voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new contract last week, the group announced on Monday. About 97% of the members who weighed in voted to approve the deal. CTU has nearly 30,000 members. The contract includes teacher and staff pay raises, class size limits, more planning time, and more funding for various programs. CHICAGO - The Chicago Teachers Union overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new contract with Chicago Public Schools last week with 97% of voters supporting the deal, the union announced on Monday. About 85% of the nearly 30,000 members of the CTU voted on the latest proposal last week and the votes were tallied over the weekend. Every member had a chance to vote on the contract. The contract still requires final approval from the Chicago Board of Education. What we know The contract will be in effect through the 2028-29 school year after approval from all levels. The contract took almost a year to negotiate and was won without a strike vote, the union pointed out. The CTU said the contract includes funding for 90 new librarians, 215 additional case managers, 400 more teachers assistants, and 68 new centralized technology coordinator positions. In an announcement, the CTU said the new deal "will represent a major leap forward in the transformation of a district that is still recovering from the gutting and financial irresponsibility" of former Mayor Rahm Emanuel and former CPS CEOs Arne Duncan and Paul Vallas. The union also called out sitting district CEO Pedro Martinez saying he was an obstruction to the process. Dig deeper The four-year contract includes an overall pay raise of at least 16% for all teachers, with annual increases between 4% and 8.5%, plus step increases based on a teacher's years of service. The starting salary for new teachers will increase to nearly $69,000, while the median CPS teacher will earn more than $98,000 by fiscal year 2026. Other key provisions include: Class size limits: Kindergarten capped at 25 students, grades 1-3 at 28 students, grades 4-8 at 30 students, and high school classes between 29-31 students. CPS will increase funding for additional teachers and aides to help manage larger classes. Teacher prep time: Elementary school teachers will receive 10 additional minutes of daily planning time, bringing the total to 350 minutes per week. Additional professional development days will be restructured to provide more teacher-directed prep time. Expanded benefits: CPS will provide 100% tuition reimbursement for up to 300 teachers seeking bilingual or English as a Second Language endorsements. The district will also expand medical and dental benefits for employees making under $90,000, increase coverage for therapies, and guarantee access to abortion coverage, infertility treatments, and gender-affirming care. Student and school resources: The district will triple funding for athletics, add teacher assistants to all general education pre-K classrooms, increase funding for fine arts education, and expand the number of "sustainable community schools" from 20 to 70.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
DCS will certify students who attain literacy in two languages
Apr. 11—Decatur City Schools is implementing a new certification program for students who achieve literacy in both English and another language. The certification will let prospective employers and colleges know the student is proficient, which could help them get a job, a scholarship or college credit. Ann Marie Batista, English as a Second Language program supervisor for Decatur City Schools, unveiled the DCS Alabama seal of biliteracy plan at this week's school board meeting. "Many states around us have their own seal of biliteracy and Alabama now has its own seal, the Alabama seal of biliteracy," Batista told board members. According to the Alabama State Department of Education, the Alabama seal of biliteracy "acknowledges and communicates the value of the nation's diversity in language assets. It encourages language learners to maintain and improve their first or heritage language while also acquiring proficiency in additional languages." She said there are about 30 school districts throughout the state that already have an established biliteracy seal plan. "We are wanting to have our own established plan so we can recognize students," she said. She said the opportunity is for all students. It includes native English speakers and students with home languages that are other than English. She said it doesn't matter which language you learn first, the goal is to recognize students for their proficiency in two languages. She said students have to demonstrate their proficiency according to state standards and they have to meet high school graduation requirements. According to the State Department of Education seal of biliteracy guidelines, the seal is awarded by the department to graduating students who have demonstrated an intermediate level of proficiency in English and at least one other world language, including American Sign Language. "I think it is a very strengthening move for our graduates to be recognized for that (biliteracy) because we are all aware that knowing more than one language is the best way to go," DCS board member Peggy Baggett said. The seal will let employers and universities know the student has attained biliteracy. "Because part of purpose is to demonstrate to employers on their resume that they have an official recognition of proficiency," Batista said. "Also, some universities are beginning to accept the mid-proficiency seal in their universities allowing for some credits. There are multiple purposes. So, we think that DCS would be a wonderful place to also recognize that." When students meet the requirements, they will receive an official designation on their official transcript, she said. "If you are going for competitive scholarship or a job and you've got this designation on your transcript, then you have a leg up from someone who doesn't," Superintendent Michael Douglas said after the meeting. — or 256-340-2361
