Ensuring School Success for Language Minority Students: Input from the Field on an Elementary School Program.

This is an evaluation of the first 3 years of Project REALM (Reading English And Learning Mathematics), a project funded by Title VII. This project provides additional support to improve the quality of elementary education for new refugee students. Project REALM has 5 major objectives, including the following: (1) to increase participants’ English proficiency; (2) to increase participants’ reading ability; (3) to increase participants’ mathematic computational skills; (4) to provide professional development for teachers and support staff; and (5) to enhance family participation in school activities and community events. Evaluation involved examining teacher focus group interviews, county professional development proposals and professional development flyers, and student test scores. Overall, Project REALM served 146 limited English proficient students in preschool through grade 4 who spoke 12 languages or dialects, including Bosnians, Cubans, Iraqis, and Somalis. Project REALM was effective in increasing students’ English achievement scores, providing extensive professional development to both program staff and related teachers, and encouraging parental involvement in their students’ education. (Contains 15 references and 8 tables.) (SM) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Language Minority Students 1 Running head: Language Minority Students Ensuring School Success for Language Minority Students: Input from the Field on an Elementary School Program Marco A. Munoz Catherine Clavijo Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) VanHoose Education Center Accountability, Research, and Planning Department 3332 Newburg Road Louisville, KY 40218 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement ED ATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy.