Appendix

Forthcoming Research on English Language Learners

Center for Research on Education, Diversity & Excellence (CREDE)
Language Learning and Academic Achievement Synthesis Team is synthesizing research on the relationship between language and academic achievement within a variety of alternative programs for linguistically diverse students and exploring application of the findings to school and classroom settings. The synthesis is expected to be published in the summer of 2004. For more information, see www.coe.uh.edu/crede/synthesis.html. For a complete list of CREDE’s research projects see www.cal.org/crede/credeprj.htm

National Literacy Panel on the Development of Literacy Among Language Minority Children and Youth
SRI International and the Center for Applied Linguistics will convene a National Literacy Panel (NLP) to conduct a comprehensive, evidence-based review of the research literature on the development of literacy among language minority children and youth. This 24-month study complements the scope of the study conducted by the National Reading Panel (which excluded literacy development among language minority students). It is organized along similar lines, but will include quantitative experimental studies, quantitative nonexperimental studies, and qualitative studies. The 14-member panel will form six subcommittees, each of which will focus on different topics in literacy research. The principal investigator for the study is Diane August of the Center for Applied Linguistics. Senior advisers are Donna Christian, Center for Applied Linguistics, and Regie Stites, SRI International. For more information see www.cal.org/natl-lit-panel/

What Works Clearinghouse (www.w-w-c.org)
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) was established by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences to provide decisionmakers with the information they need to make choices based on high-quality scientific research. The WWC will develop standards for reviewing and synthesizing educational research and will provide its findings in several free, searchable, user-friendly databases. It is also producing evidence reports on seven topic areas. One report will focus on "Interventions for Elementary School English Language Learners: Increasing English Language Acquisition and Academic Achievement." The WWC Evidence Reports will be prepared in accordance with well-defined guidelines and undergo a rigorous review procedure, which includes peer reviews at key stages of the process. The report is due to be published in Spring 2004.