From the executive summary of the report:
Given that state charter school laws have a major impact on students' likelihood to access such schools and how effectively these schools serve students, we consider the most salient state policies affecting Latinos and ELLs. Profiles of four high-performing charter schools that serve a significant proportion of Latinos and ELLs-El Sol Science and Arts Academy in Santa Ana, California; the Raul Yzaguirre School for Success in Houston Texas; YES Prep Gulfton in Houston, Texas; and International Charter School in Pawtucket, Rhode Island-help illuminate how some of these policies are put into practice. The profiles also display effective practices that have been picked up by school leaders who are familiar with working with this population in the charter school context. The lessons they have learned are valuable to both charter schools and traditional public schools alike.
Many of the strategies that these schools have found to be effective in serving Latinos and ELLs can be immediately implemented by both charter schools and traditional public schools. These include:
- Establishing high expectations for all students' academic, intellectual, and social growth.
- Accelerating the pace at which English language learners engage with grade-level content.
- Expanding learning time opportunities.
- Training all staff on effective instructional strategies to engage ELLs.
- Using formal and informal strategies to promote family engagement and community collaboration.
Latest News & Events
Please join us at a PTO organized Pawsox vs. Norfolk Tides baseball game on Monday, May 28 at 4:00 p.m. at McCoy Stadium. Admission is $21.00 for up to 6 people. Tickets can be purchased at ICS's main office. The rain date is May 29. ICS receives half of the ticket sales.
Download 2012-13 kindergarten orientation power point presentations: Soraya Gomes, "Fostering Independence" in English, Spanish and Portuguese; Julie Nora, "General School Programs and Policies" in English, Spanish and Portuguese; Rosa Devarona, "Getting Ready for Kindergarten" in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Thanks for coming kindergarten families.
Read an article published in Soleado, a publication of Dual Language New Mexico, written by ICS Director Julie Nora about the importance of teaching students cultural competence and how ICS is accomplishing this through our social studies curriculum. See the latest summer issue where this article appears as well as past issues here .
The Charter School Showcase took place at the Statehouse on May 2. See video of schools representatives-including our own Student Body President Mariela Flores-making statements about their schools here.
Read ICS's first student newsletter by clicking here.
Congratulations to Tar Wars winners!! Lucy -1st place, Maximiliano-2nd place and Jonas-3rd place.
ICS's 4th Graders will take the NECAP science assessment on May 15, 16 and 17. For more information on this assessment, click here.
Massachusetts Association of Bilingual Education (MABE) will host a dual language conference to be held at ICS on May 19-Register here.
ICS's performance on NECAP featured in the Providence Business News and the Valley Breeze.
