Heritage Language Grant

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About the Grant

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Multilingual Education Department has awarded a Heritage Language Program Grant to Wenatchee Public Schools in Wenatchee, WA, to offer a two-year remote-learning program for Heritage Language speakers of Romanian, Russian, Spanish, or Ukrainian. The project will support the students to develop their language proficiency and literacy in their Heritage Language while also preparing a portfolio for the Global Competence Certificate in the Heritage Language (and English too, if they like) through the World Affairs Council in Seattle. Upon completion of the program, students will also have the opportunity to complete World Language Competency-Based Credit testing to earn high school credits in their language and potentially qualify for the Washington State Seal of Biliteracy.  They may also qualify for the Global Seal of Biliteracy https://theglobalseal.com/.

Global Competence Certificate
The Global Seal of Biliteracy

The project-based curriculum will integrate content and functional language (such as writing or presenting summaries, narratives, descriptions, etc.) through synchronous interactive classes through Zoom and with online videos. Engaging, culturally and developmentally appropriate activities will be offered in a flexible way so that students’ learning experiences are personalized to their needs and interests. Over the year, the students would be developing evidence (in the Heritage Language) for their Global Competence Certificate in the areas of Global Learning, International Engagement, and Language and Intercultural Learning. Resources from this program will be open to teachers, schools, students, and families throughout the state and adaptable to other languages and cultures.

The grant will also fund a series of workshops for teachers throughout the state to learn more about effective Heritage Language teaching practices.

Wenatchee Public Schools will be partnering with a number of community-based organizations, including the American Romanian Cultural Society, Ethnic Heritage Council, Slavic East European Teachers Association of Washington, Washington Association for Language Teaching, Washington State Coalition for International Education, and the World Affairs Council Global Classroom. 

The program will be open to Heritage Language speakers of Romanian, Russian, Spanish, or Ukrainian in Wenatchee Public Schools and other public high schools throughout the state. We may also be able to include some middle school students.

Please complete this contact form in order to receive email announcements about a new program for high school Heritage Speakers of Romanian, Russian, Spanish or Ukrainian. Students, parents, teachers, counselors, and other interested community members are welcome to sign up for our email announcements.

To receive more information, complete this contact form.

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FAQs

Q: Who can register for this program?

A: Because of the state grant funding through OSPI Multilingual Education, this program is only open to students attending public high schools (or middle schools) in Washington state. Home schoolers who are registered with a public school district can also attend.

Q: What is the cost of the program?

A: The cost of the program is funded by the state grant, so there are no registration fees required of students and their families.

Q: When does the program begin?

A: We are still recruiting students although the first classes began in January, 2022. The grant has been funded for two years, so students who are not seniors can continue in the program during 2022-2023.

More questions and answers at Heritage Language Grant – For Students.

To receive more information, please complete this contact form.