Bethesda, Md. — U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today was joined by U.S. Rep. Connie Morella and leading researchers and experts to discuss the current scientific findings on teaching children whose first language is not English.

The roundtable discussion was held at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).

"Reading, writing and speaking English are critical skills for living the American dream. Over the past two decades, America's schools have welcomed over five million students who are not native English speakers. Nineteen states have reported an increase of more than 50 percent in English language learners over the last three years — and that growth is expected to continue," Paige said. "Discussions such as this one, with some of the best minds in the country, will help us identify the best way to achieve this critical goal."

Paige and Morella were joined by Dr. Elias Zerhouni, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH); Dr. Duane Alexander, director, NICHD; Dr. Reid Lyon, chief of the Child Development and Behavior Branch of NICHD; Dr. Jack Fletcher, University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston; Dr. Yvonne Maddox of NIH; Dr. Catherine Snow, Harvard University; Dr. Patton Tabors, Harvard University; Dr. Mariela Paez, Harvard University; Ms. Elizabeth Howard, Center for Applied Linguistics; Dr. Sharon Vaughn, University of Texas at Austin; and Dr. Elsa Cardenas-Hagan, University of Houston.

Since 1999, the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) and the NICHD have been working on an initiative to address the issue of biliteracy. Today's discussion is part of that partnership.

Research is underway that will study more than 5,400 children at multiple sites in eight states. The initiative addresses three overarching questions: how children whose first language is Spanish learn to read and write in English; why some of these children have difficulties acquiring these skills; and which instructional strategies and approaches are most beneficial to which children and under what conditions. The initiative also addresses teacher knowledge required to ensure strong outcomes. Nearly $30 million will be invested through 2004 to carry out this research.

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, states are not required to use a particular method of instruction for students whose first language is not English. However, states and local education agencies must establish English proficiency standards and provide quality language instruction based on scientific research for English language acquisition, and quality academic instruction in reading and math. States and local education agencies also must provide quality teachers to classrooms where English language learners are taught. Children who are in the process of becoming English proficient will be tested in academic content areas so that they are not left behind. The 2002 budget includes $665 million in 2002 to help English language learners acquire English language skills — a 49 percent increase over 2001.

Under the law, which President Bush signed in January, states and school districts will develop strong systems of accountability based upon student performance. The new law also gives states and school districts increased local control and flexibility, removing federal red tape and bureaucracy and putting decision-making in the hands of those at the local and state levels.

Beginning this fall, parents of children from disadvantaged backgrounds will have options under the new law to participate in public school choice programs or obtain supplemental services such as tutoring. And teachers around the country will be encouraged to use teaching methods based upon scientific research that show they have been proven to work.

Paige kicked off his No Child Left Behind Tour Across America in Albuquerque, N.M., in April 2002, to educate parents, educators, community and business leaders and other stakeholders about the most sweeping change in education policy in three decades — and to ask for their help in strengthening schools and leaving no child behind. Other stops on the tour will be announced later.

For more information about the new law and Secretary Paige's tour, visit www.nochildleftbehind.gov.

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