ESU receives grant to help teachers enhance English language learning

Emporia State University is utilizing a U. S. Department of Education grant to help teachers in six Kansas school districts improve the English language skills of their students.

The $1.4 million grant will fund a five-year Project Estrellas program in USD 206-Remington, USD 260-Derby, USD 385-Andover, USD 465-Winfield, USD 470-Arkansas City, and USD 490-El Dorado.

“Project Estrellas will provide services and address the needs of English language learners who are at risk of educational failure,” said Dr. Salim Sehlaoui, associate professor of TESOL and Applied Linguistics. Sehlaoui and Dr. Nancy Albrecht, assistant professor of education, co-authored the grant application and co-direct the Project Estrellas program.

TESOL is an acronym for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. The grant allows ESU and the six school districts to collaborate in selecting 20 inservice teachers each year of the five-year grant to participate in professional development activities that will result in TESOL licensure.

For more information on the Project Estrellas program, contact Dr. Sehlaoui at 620-341-5237 or email asehlaou@emporia.edu.

Last Updated January 11, 2008>