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Wilmington Public Schools Awarded $11,814 Grant for World Language Program Enhancement

Join our World Language Advisory Committee!

World Language Advisory Team - Description and Timeline 

Estimated Timeline: March 25 - May 30, 2025

Click here to be a part of the team!

 

Description:

The World Language Advisory Team will serve as a collaborative body of stakeholders dedicated to supporting and enhancing the World Language program in Wilmington Public Schools. This team will play a crucial role in guiding the implementation of the Proficiency-based Outcomes in Languages Other than English grant, providing valuable feedback, and fostering communication between the school community and the World Language Department. The team will consist of representatives from various stakeholder groups, ensuring diverse perspectives and fostering a shared vision for language education.

Team Composition: The advisory team will attempt to include the following members, but will not be limited to:

• World Languages Curriculum Team Leader (facilitator)High School World Language Teachers (2-3 representatives)
• Middle School World Language Teachers (1-2 representatives)
• High School World Language Student Representatives (2-3 students)
• High School Heritage Language Representatives (2-3 students)
• Teachers, Students, Families, or Administrators with Special Education experience and/or needs (1-2 members)
• Parent/Guardian Representatives (2-3 parents, with a focus on seeking representation from families of diverse language backgrounds and abilities)
• School Administrator (e.g., Principal or Assistant Principal)
• Community Member (e.g., someone with expertise in language education or international business, school committee, local business owners)

Responsibilities

The World Language Advisory Team will:

• Review and provide feedback on the implementation of the grant-funded assessment plan.
• Discuss and offer input on the use of assessment data to inform curriculum development and instructional practices.
• Act as a communication liaison between the school community and the World Language Department, sharing information about program updates and initiatives.
• Provide feedback on the World Language program's strengths, areas for growth, and potential future directions.
• Explore opportunities to support and promote language learning within the wider community.

Timeline (March 1 - May 30, 2025):

• March 25 - April 2: Team Recruitment and Invitation: 
• The World Languages Curriculum Team Leader will identify and invite potential members to the advisory team, ensuring representation from all stakeholder groups. Invitations will clearly outline the team's purpose, responsibilities, and time commitment.
• April 5-8: Team Confirmation and Scheduling: 
• Confirm participation from invited members and establish a meeting schedule that accommodates everyone's availability. Aim for 2-3 meetings during this period. Determine meeting format (virtual, in-person, or hybrid).
• April 9 - 30: Initial Meetings & Grant Review: 
• The first meeting will focus on introductions, reviewing the grant proposal and its goals, and discussing the assessment plan.
• The second meeting will discuss the results of the Avant STAMP testing and how the data can be used to improve the program.
• May 1 - May 15: Feedback and Recommendations: 
• Subsequent meetings will focus on gathering feedback on program strengths and areas for improvement, brainstorming ideas for future program development, and discussing communication strategies to share program updates with the wider community.
• May 16 - 30: Summary Report and Next Steps: 
• The World Languages Curriculum Team Leader will compile a summary report of the advisory team's discussions and recommendations. This report will be shared with the team members and relevant school administrators. The final meeting will discuss next steps, including potential future meetings of the advisory team for the following school year and suggestions for grant application for next school year.

Communication: The World Languages Curriculum Team Leader will serve as the primary point of contact for the advisory team. Communication will be conducted through email, meetings, and potentially a shared online platform like the current website/blog set up for World Languages for document sharing and discussion.

Evaluation: The effectiveness of the advisory team will be evaluated through feedback from team members and the impact of their recommendations on the World Language program. The summary report will also serve as a valuable record of the team's contributions.

Considerations: The limited time commitment should be noted here. The team will try to limit participants' time commitment to no more than 4 hours per person. If more time is needed, the facilitator will run smaller sessions and create surveys to ensure all stakeholders are given the opportunity to share their perspectives.

Click here to be a part of the team!