PR/HYLI 2020-2021 Now Accepting Applications!

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The Hudson Valley Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network (HV RBERN) is beginning the process of recruiting high school juniors and seniors to apply to participate in the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (PR/HYLI) 2020-2021 training sessions.

Participation in PR/HYLI develops and leverages students’ leadership, advocacy, public speaking, and essay writing skills. The culmination of the training sessions is the PR/HYLI Weekend Institute, during which students from across New York state debate bills within the New York State Assembly Chambers while assuming the roles of New York State Legislators.

This year, each of our training sessions and the weekend institute will be conducted virtually, outside of school hours. This training model extends participation opportunities to students throughout the Hudson Valley region.

The PR/HYLI Weekend Institute is scheduled for March 13-14, 2021. The dates and times of the training sessions will be established after we survey the students’ availability. We anticipate that training sessions will begin in December.

Participating students will have options for applying PR/HYLI training toward earning the NYS Seal of Biliteracy and the NYS Seal of Civic Engagement. PR/HYLI scholars who are seniors, who meet certain criteria, can submit their PR/HYLI essays for scholarships provided through SOMOS, Inc, a key sponsor of PR/HYLI.

Visit https://prhyli.org/ and https://www.hudsonvalleyrbern.org/prhyli for additional information about PR/HYLI.

The digital student application for participation in the HV RBERN PR/HYLI delegation can be found at this link:

2020-2021 PR/HYLI Application

The Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (PR/HYLI) regional training team will hold an information session on Tuesday, November 10, 2020. Here we will share information on the application process and the training sessions and answer your questions. If you are interested in participating in this information session, please complete the registration form at this link. We look forward to seeing you there.

We would like to have at least one person from each district in our region to be our point of contact regarding PR/HYLI. We are asking that the person/people that we should keep informed with PR/HYLI information, such as training dates, student applicants, and accepted students, complete a brief survey. Please complete the survey if you would like to receive PR/HYLI information and/or please forward the survey link to the staff members that should be or may want to be included.

For more information, please contact the HV RBERN PR/HYLI Delegation Trainers through prhyli@hudsonvalleyrbern.org.

Update from OBEWL

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Update from OBEWL

Just Released: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers on Regarding Providing Services for English Language Learners (ELLs) During the Pandemic

The New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages (OBEWL) has compiled the following answers to questions collected from the field regarding English Language Learners (ELLs) and other Multilingual Learners (MLs), including World Languages students, heritage speakers of World Languages, and students who were once ELLs but have since exited ELL status. The attached FAQ provides additional clarification on the topics addressed in the School Reopening Guidance: Recovering, Rebuilding and Renewing the Spirit of New York’s Schools released in July 2020, including:

  • ELL Identification

  • Instruction and Units of Study

  • Progress Monitoring

  • ELL Students with Disabilities (SWD)

  • New York State Seal of Biliteracy (NYSSB)

  • Parent/Family Communication

  • Accountability/English Language Proficiency (ELP)

  • Reporting

  • Virtual and Remote Learning

  • Resources for Reference

Please contact the HV RBERN for support or with any questions you have.

HV RBERN Update

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Greetings!

HV RBERN Reminders and Updates

The HV RBERN is pleased to announce the following new workshops:

The Language Proficiency Team: Identifying Language Needs in Students with Disabilities

NYS Commissioner’s Regulations Subpart 154-3 includes criteria for determining whether a student with a disability should take the statewide English language proficiency identification assessment (NYSITELL).This workshop will provide a close look at the steps districts should follow when a new student enrolls with an IEP, who may have second language acquisition needs. We will discuss specific scenarios, review sample documents and respond to district-specific questions.

This workshop is offered to individual districts, upon request, in order to ensure that the members of the LPT are available to participate together at their convenience to develop protocols and ensure the process is consistent across the district.

Participants can receive 1 hour of CTLE credit.

Pre-Referral Considerations for English Language Learners

This workshop will explore how educators can gather evidence and carefully distinguish when an ELL student is struggling academically, if language acquisition, cultural and linguistic diversity, gaps in learning or an actual disability or disorder is at the root cause. We will identify factors that must be considered in developing a district protocol prior to referring an ELL student for a Special Education evaluation.

This workshop is offered to individual districts, upon request, that wish to gather the team of educators involved in the Response to Intervention team or Pre-Referral committee to ensure that key members are available to collectively review or revise a pre-referral process that is consistent across the district.

Participants can receive 2 hours of CTLE credit.

Please contact Alison Provencher at AProvencher@swboces.org to set a date and time for either of these workshops. Options for scheduling are very flexible.

Updates from OBEWL

Instructional Units of Study Guidance

As per Commissioner’s Regulations (CR) Part 154, English Language Learners (ELLs) must be provided the required instructional Units of Study in their English as a New Language (ENL) or Bilingual Education (BE) program based on their most recent English language proficiency level as determined by the most current NYSESLAT or NYSITELL assessment. This guidance document addresses instructional experiences in ENL Units of Study in various learning models, including services for former ELLs (years 1 and 2).

Comprehensive ELL Education Plan (CEEP)

Each district must complete the annual CEEP, which the district superintendent submits via the NYSED Business Portal no later than December 15.

ELL Support

As advocates for ELLs and immigrant families, it is important to consider how the pandemic has affected our most vulnerable populations. With this in mind, please consider the following piece from the Washington Post, shared by our colleagues at the Mid-Hudson Migrant Education Program. For support and resources regarding migrant students, please contact https://www.nysmigrant.org/mets/mid-hudson.

Please contact the HV RBERN for support or with any questions you have.