September 2024 ESOL Updates

Armstrong, Jane Jane.Armstrong at maine.gov
Wed Sep 4 07:00:42 EDT 2024 

September 2024: Wishing You a Successful Start to the School Year

The Maine Department of Education appreciates all of the great work schools are doing to support students. The Multilingual Learner Identification & Placement Guide<https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/multilinguallearner/identification> has been updated for the 2024-2025 school year to help you provide meaningful access and opportunity for all multilingual learners.

We are excited to announce that the Office of Teaching and Learning now has an additional position to support multilingual educators and learners across the state. Please welcome Melanie Junkins, Maine Department of Education's Multilingual and Bilingual Education Specialist. Melanie Junkins, MSEd, was formerly the Family Engagement and Culturally Responsive Specialist for the Maine DOE. She brings high levels of experience and systems level thinking for supporting multilingual learners in rural communities.  Melanie will also be the Seal of Biliteracy and World Languages contact at the Maine DOE.
You can find her contact information on the Multilingual Learner home page on the Maine DOE website, found here: https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/multilinguallearner

Another update includes a change in our information dissemination process. Instead of an ESOL Newsletter, we'll be updating our website regularly to respond to the growing needs for both educators and leaders across the state. Extending the reach of information and professional learning opportunities to a wider audience supports shared responsibility, accessibility, and inclusion for all. Please bookmark and share the Maine Multilingual Learner homepage found here: https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/multilinguallearner

You will also find upcoming professional development opportunities linked on the Multilingual Program Professional Development<https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/multilinguallearner/pl> page. We intend to keep this website current with opportunities to support multilingual learners.

Additionally, there will be targeted office hours to support teachers and leaders, shared professional learning webinars with the Maine DOE Assessment team, and facilitated WIDA workshops for team participation. Use the Maine DOE Events Calendar<https://www.maine.gov/doe/index.php/calendar> to learn more about the following:

NEW: Office Hours

  *   Coming Soon: Multilingual Networking Office Hours for Directors and Coordinators of Multilingual Programs: Come join us each month where we will lean into relevant topics, roles and responsibilities, and priorities as Directors and/or Coordinators of Multilingual Programs. This time will be responsive and collaborative to build collective efficacy. Register here<https://mainestate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYodeisrD4iHNDl3sQobP0a60KCsc890lbf> and sessions are 3:30-4:30 on the 4th Monday of the month.
     *   September 23: Whole System Approach: Roles and Responsibilities
     *   October 28: WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards: Next Steps
     *   November 25: Data Trends: How does this impact your local priorities
     *   December 23: Multilingual Learners (MLs) with Disabilities: The Art of Collaboration
  *   Posted: New 660 Endorsed ESOL Educator Office Hours: Are you a new 660 endorsed ESOL educator or working toward your endorsement with an emergency or conditional license? Supporting multilingual learners can feel overwhelming, especially when you're unsure where to begin.  That's why we've created these office hours with you in mind. Register here<https://mainestate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvdO6vqzwtH9HyLu3k7NZiX0qIDtZv61Ci> and sessions are from 3:30-4:30 on the 2nd Tuesday of the month.
     *   September 10: Identification and Process Overview
     *   October 8: Family Engagement and Advocacy
     *   November 12: WIDA Can Do Descriptors
     *   December 10: ACCESS Testing

WIDA ACCESS Webinars with our Assessment Team

  *   Overview of ACCESS for New Test Coordinators (all coordinators welcome) on Monday, October 21, 2024, 3-4pm.
     *   Presentation Description: Participants will be provided an overview of WIDA Alternate ACCESS including scheduling, basics of administration, and review of training resources.
     *   Intended Audience: ACCESS Assessment Test Coordinators and Teachers
     *   Registration Link: Overview of ACCESS <https://networkmaine.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0kd-yorD4vGNAENx2ffbHRGs3M49hcRd31> for MLs for New Test Coordinators<https://networkmaine.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0kd-yorD4vGNAENx2ffbHRGs3M49hcRd31>
  *   Alternate ACCESS for MLs: An overview on Monday, October 28, 2024, 3-4pm
     *   Presentation Description: Participants will be provided with information on how to create WIDA user accounts, monitor test administrator training completion, use WIDA AMS, and how to administer the WIDA ACCESS assessment.
     *   Intended Audience: Alternate ACCESS Assessment Test Coordinators and Test Administrators Registration Link: Alternate ACCESS for MLs: An overview<https://networkmaine.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwucOirqzgqE9ZO2RhYHigSPjl7IWFFJRbO>
  *   Accessibility Features and Accommodations on the ACCESS Assessment on Monday, December 2, 2024, 3-4pm
     *   Presentation Description: Participants will be provided with guidance on the selection and administration of Administrative Considerations, Universal Tools, and Accommodations available on the ACCESS assessment.
     *   Intended Audience: ACCESS Assessment Test Coordinators, Test Administrators, and ESOL teachers. Registration Link: Accessibility Features and Accommodations on the <https://networkmaine.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEscOmurDktGNEiaK4YH64N-fYNPXVf8lNX> ACCESS Assessment<https://networkmaine.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEscOmurDktGNEiaK4YH64N-fYNPXVf8lNX>

Facilitated WIDA Virtual Workshops
Posted and ready for individuals and teams to register!

     *   Planning with the WIDA ELD Standards Framework   See the Maine DOE Newsroom<https://mainedoenews.net/2024/09/03/free-professional-learning-integrating-wida-english-language-development-eld-standards-framework/> post for more information and to share.
     *   When Language and Disability Meet: Planning Instruction to Support Dually Identified Students    See the attached PDF for more details and to share.

Last, please explore the Maine Multilingual Learner dashboard<https://www.maine.gov/doe/Multilinguallearnerdatadashboard> and Seal of Biliteracy dashboard<https://www.maine.gov/doe/biliteracydashboard> to gain valuable insights into the progress and achievements of our multilingual learners, and discover how we can further support their success in an increasingly diverse educational landscape. We are wishing you a great start to the year.

Best,
Jane and Melanie


Jane Armstrong (she,her)
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) State Specialist
Office of Teaching and Learning
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0023
Email: jane.armstrong at maine.gov<mailto:jane.armstrong at maine.gov>
Phone: 207-446-3294


Melanie Junkins, MSEd (she/her)

Multilingual and Bilingual Education Specialist

Office of Teaching and Learning

Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0023
Email: melanie.junkins at maine.gov<mailto:melanie.junkins at maine.gov>

Phone: 207-215-9694

Maine DOE<http://www.maine.gov/doe> | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/MaineDepartmentofEducation1/> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/mdoenews> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/mainedepted/?hl=en> | Maine DOE Newsroom<https://mainedoenews.net/>
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