NORTHEAST AND ISLANDS REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORY (LAB)

has helped the education community improve schooling for our children. We conduct applied research and evaluation, and provide technical assistance and informational resources to connect research and practice, build knowledge and skills, and meet critical needs in the fi eld. With offi ces in Rhode Island, New York, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, and a dedicated team of over 100 skilled professionals, we provide services and resources to K–16 institutions across the country and beyond. As we work with educators, we customize our programs to the specifi c needs of our clients. The Education Alliance at Brown University is home to the Northeast and Islands Regional Educational Laboratory (LAB), one of ten educational laboratories funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences. Our goals are to improve teaching and learning, advance school improvement, build capacity for reform, and develop strategic alliances with key members of the region’s education and policy-making community. The LAB develops educational products and services for school administrators, policymakers, teachers, and parents in New England, New York, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Central to our efforts is a commitment to equity and excellence. Information about all Alliance programs and services is available by contacting: under Contract Number ED-01-CO-0010. Any opinions, fi ndings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily refl ect the views of IES, the U.S. Department of Education, or any other agency of the U.S. Government. III ABOUT THE AUTHORS Dr. Elise Trumbull is an applied psycholinguist whose research focuses on the relationships among language, culture, and schooling. A former elementary teacher, she directed the Bridging Cultures project at WestEd from 1996–2004, where she also collaborated on assessment research on English language learners. Dr. Maria Pacheco is the director of the Equity and Diversity programs at The Education Alliance. She has 28 years of experience addressing issues of cultural diversity in urban schools and higher education. As a researcher, teacher, and program director, she has worked extensively in the areas of equity pedagogy, curriculum development, English language learners, literacy, and minority parent and community involvement. She is the co-author of Claiming Opportunities: A Handbook for Improving Education Through Comprehensive School Reform and Approaches to Writing Instruction for Late-Adolescent English Language Learners.