4 Ways to Support Student Success Initiatives by Bridging the Gap between School and Home

By Dr. David Holbrook | November 7, 2023

The gold standard of a thriving educational environment is one in which parents and teachers work towards aligned goals, the students have the latest technology at their fingertips at school and home, and communication between parties is welcomed and encouraged.

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Bridging Language Gaps: Engaging Multilingual Parents in School Districts with Afghan and Ukrainian Families

By TransAct | September 7, 2023

An increasing number of Afghan and Ukrainian families are entering U.S. school districts as immigrants and refugees. Integrating these newcomers poses unique challenges, among them the critical task of effective communication between the school and parents. Communication is a cornerstone for student success; however, language barriers often act as a stumbling block for meaningful interaction with parents from non-English speaking backgrounds. 

As our student body becomes increasingly diverse, there is no better time to take a proactive approach to parent communication, especially in their own languages.

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ParentNotices: Now Available in Dari, Pashto, and Ukrainian

By Dr. David Holbrook | August 8, 2023

TransACT ParentNotices, in collaboration with some states and districts, has translated its ESSA and General Education ParentNotices Collections into Dari, Pashto, and Ukrainian, the languages of recent refugee populations. The following ParentNotices Collections have been updated:

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Hidden Translation Risks: Limitations of School Notification Translators

By Dr. David Holbrook | December 1, 2022

As an education professional, we understand that you are committed to communicating effectively with your students and their families to support student success. Not only that, you’re aware of the legal obligations of presenting information in a language that all parents understand, including the parents of English learner (EL) students. After all, your goal is to build trust, share information, and show that you care about all students in your district  — regardless of which language they speak.

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Grants for School-Based Mental Health Providers Announced

By Dr. David Holbrook | October 5, 2022

Published on October 5, 2022

The U.S. Department of Education (USED) released the Notice Inviting Applications for two grants funded by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). These grants are part of the Biden Administration's goal of “doubling the number of school-based mental health professionals.”  

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NAELPA Publishes White Paper on Having an Asset-Based Mindset Toward Multilingual Learners

By Alyssa Thornley | September 22, 2022

The National Association of English Learner Program Administrators’ (NAELPA) Advocating for Multilingual Learners Committee recently posted a brief white paper, The Importance of an Asset-Based Mindset and Using Asset-Based Terminology when Referencing the ESSA Subgroup – ELs. The white paper summarizes the results of the committee’s research on this topic.

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Can Title III Funds Be Used To Pay Educator Salaries?

By Dr. David Holbrook | November 23, 2020

Title III of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) includes a fiscal restriction called ‘Supplement not Supplant’ that includes federal, state, and local funds and laws. This means that if there is a federal, state, or local law that requires EL related programs, services, activities, or expenditures, then Title III funds cannot be used to pay for the things required by other laws. 

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Providing English Learners Equitable Access to Educational Programs in a Distance Learning Environment

By Dr. David Holbrook | April 17, 2020

COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus, has shuttered schools across the nation and forced the education of students to move to an online or distance learning methodology, endangering equitable access to educational programs for many students, especially English learners. This pandemic has caused disruptions in many areas, including meeting compliance requirements related to communicating with parents found in federal education laws, including the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

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Webinar: Increases in Parent and Family Engagement Requirements

By Dr. David Holbrook | September 3, 2019

The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) shifted the responsibility for some requirements of federal mandates to be determined in ESSA States plans.  

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Collaboration between programs serving ELs experiencing homelessness

By Dr. David Holbrook | May 21, 2019

 

On May 29th at 9 am PT / 12 pm ET, Dr. David Holbrook, Executive Director, Federal Compliance of TransACT Communications, will be hosting a webinar examining the benefits of coordinating between ESSA Title I / Title III and McKinney-Vento programs when serving ELs who may be experiencing homelessness.

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