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Abstract
This report was developed through a partnership between the Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE) Newcomer Research-Practice-Policy Partnership and the Center for Equity for English Learners (CEEL) at Loyola Marymount University (LMU). It presents a case study that identifies promising practices for newcomer education implemented in San Juan Unified School District (SJUSD), one of 12 local educational agencies (LEAs) funded under the California Newcomer Education and Well-Being (CalNEW) project between 2018 and 2021. The case study was conducted during a 2022 summer program for recently arrived immigrant students. Using interviews with 32 school and community leaders and educators, a review of 65 program documents, and observations of 15 classrooms using a tool focused on effective instructional practices for newcomer education, four overarching themes that illustrate promising practices are identified a) building on community cultural wealth, b) leveraging multiple and differentiated resources, c) developing educator capabilities to teach and support newcomer students, and d) designing newcomer program and placement practices. Findings also reveal three overarching challenge areas faced in program implementation including a) grappling with conflicted ideologies, b) ongoing curricular needs and instructional supports for newcomer students, and c) building a comprehensive ELD program design. Based upon the findings for promising practices and challenges, the authors propose three implications for building effective systems to support newcomer students a) sustain newcomer program commitments, b) uphold assets-based narratives about immigrant /refugee students and communities, and c) strengthen local, state, and national newcomer education policy coherence.
Publication Date
2023
Disciplines
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | Education
Recommended Citation for Full Report
Lavadenz, M., Kaminski, L., Armas, E. (2023). San Juan Unified newcomer support: Promising practices [Report]. Policy Analysis for California. https://edpolicyinca.org/publications/san-juan-unified-newcomer-support. DOI: 10.15365/ceel.SJUSD2023