A Time for Advocacy
This work has never been more critical. In an era of misguided “accountability” measures, high-stakes testing, cutbacks in school funding, and English-only activism, strong advocacy for children is essential. Scientific knowledge about what works – not ideology or political expedience – must guide public policy.
For more details on plans for advocacy, download our membership application. And see the ESL Miniconference interview with Institute President James Crawford.
Our Mission
The Institute is incorporated for the purpose of "educating the public on research-based strategies for promoting academic excellence and equity for English and heritage language learners." Our mission is to ensure that policies for serving these children reflect the latest research about language and education. Toward that end we plan to produce issue briefs, policy analysis, news bulletins, commentary articles, online publications, media outreach, and public forums on issues including the No Child Left Behind Act, the English Only movement, and bilingual and heritage language education.
We hope to mobilize the considerable expertise that now exists among professionals in our field to exert a positive influence on legislators, state and federal officials, school superintendents and board members, and other policymakers. Decisions affecting English and heritage language learners are simply too important to be left to politicians and pressure groups. Research-based advocacy is essential today, and that is what the Institute plans to provide.
Our Founders
Plans for the Institute emerged out of discussions among educators, researchers, administrators, policymakers, friends, and supporters of bilingual and heritage language education. Our first step was to draft an invitation and circulate it among colleagues, whose response has been enthusiastic. Thus far we have recruited members in 36 states and several foreign countries. Founders of the Institute, who pledged their volunteer efforts and financial support from the outset, include:
| Alfredo Artiles |
Ofelia García |
John Petrovic |
Board of Directors
President
James Crawford, Independent Writer and Consultant, Silver Spring, MD
Secretary
Mary Carol Combs, Associate Lecturer, Department of Language, Reading, and Culture
University of Arizona
Treasurer
Jeff MacSwan, Associate Professor, Division of Curriculum and Instruction
Arizona State University
Director
Fay Shin, Professor, Department of Teacher Education
California State University, Long Beach
Director
Sharon Adelman Reyes, Assistant Professor, Bilingual/Bicultural Education
Loyola University Chicago
Become a Member
All who share our mission and goals are invited to become members and to support the Institute financially. Member benefits include participation in an email listserv to discuss policy developments, access to the latest research on educating English and heritage language learners, eligibility to serve on professional committees, and a subscription to the Institute's online newsletter (forthcoming).
Annual membership fees are $50 for professionals, $25 for parents and full-time students. Please click here to download and print our membership form.
Contact the Institute
We are eager to receive feedback about the Institute's goals, policy positions, publications, and activities. Communications should be sent as follows:
Email
bilingualed@starpower.net
Regular mail
Institute for Language and Education Policy
P.O. Box 5960
Takoma Park, MD 20913
Documents
Institute Bylaws
Approved 4 September 2006.
Articles of Incorporation
The Institute is incorporated as a tax-exempt, nonstock corporation in the State of Maryland and has been designated a charitable, 501(c)(3) organization by the Internal Revenue Service. Membership fees and contributions to the Institute are tax-deductible at this time.
Copyright © 2007 by the Institute for Language and Education Policy. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reprint or repost material from this site unless copyrighted by third parties, for educational, advocacy, and other noncommercial purposes. All other permission requests should be directed to the Institute at bilingualed@starpower.net.
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