Synopsis
The American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) convened a group of policymakers from five states for a visit to Austin in May, 2010 to focus on strategies for moving ELLs to postsecondary success. Participants in this learning exchange included senior state education agency staff, state board of education members, and governors’ policy advisors from the states of Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and Virginia. The agenda highlighted the strategies of the Austin Independent School District (AISD) and Texas Education Agency (TEA) in building system-wide frameworks for rigorous instruction; prioritizing ELLs at district, regional, and state levels; building human capital; and meeting the needs of both urban and rural districts. The study mission included visits to two high schools that offer examples of innovative approaches to ELL instruction, Lanier High School and International High School.
