Center for Applied Linguistics

CAL SIOP for Dual Language Programs: Developing Academic Language and Content in Two Languages
2025-07-08
July 8–10, 2025
Learn SIOP methods for meeting the three pillars of dual language education: bilingualism and biliteracy, high academic achievement, and sociocultural competence!
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CAL SIOP for Trainers: Intermediate Institute
2025-07-14
July 14-17, 2025
Take your expertise in the SIOP Model to the next level and build the skills needed to lead high-quality professional development sessions in your school or district. Designed for educators with prior SIOP experience who are ready to grow as trainers and facilitators, join us for a collaborative learning experience that will deepen your understanding and expand your impact.
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CAL SIOP for Instructional Coaches: Advanced Institute
2025-07-21
July 21-24, 2025
Deepen your expertise in supporting teachers with implementation of the SIOP Model through job-embedded coaching and professional learning. Designed specifically for instructional coaches who want to strengthen their ability to provide sustained, site-based support, join us for this interactive online offering.
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Spanish-English Biliteracy Instruction (¡en español!): Advanced
2025-08-06
August 6–7, 2025
Pon tus conocimientos sobre las similitudes y diferencias entre el español y el inglés en práctica para crear actividades diseñadas para fomentar el desarrollo de la conciencia metalingüística
This new institute is designed to help participants deepen their knowledge about similarities and differences between Spanish and English and enhance their biliteracy instruction and coaching in programs where content is delivered in Spanish and English, such as dual language and transitional bilingual education programs.
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CAL SIOP for Dual Language Programs: Developing Academic Language and Content in Two Languages
2025-09-22
September 22–25 and 29–30, 2025
Learn SIOP methods for meeting the three pillars of dual language education: bilingualism and biliteracy, high academic achievement, and sociocultural competence!
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WIDA Conference 2025 Presentation - The New WIDA ACCESS Writing Scoring Rubric for Grades 1-12
2025-10-28
The New WIDA ACCESS Writing Scoring Rubric for Grades 1-12
Date & Time: October 28, 2025 | 1:15 p.m. PT
Presenter(s):

Tanya Bitterman

Description:
Do you want a better understanding of how the WIDA ACCESS Writing test is scored? Come to this workshop to hear about the new WIDA Writing Scoring Rubric for grades 1-12, which was developed to align with the 2020 Standards Framework and will be used for ACCESS scoring this year. In this session you will learn about how student responses and educator input were involved in creating the new rubric and get a chance to try scoring with the new rubric yourself.

WIDA Conference 2025 Presentation: “A Peek Behind the New Kindergarten ACCESS"
2025-10-29
“A Peek Behind the New Kindergarten ACCESS”
Event: WIDA Conference 2025
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Location: Room B
Time: 2:45 p.m.
Session Format: Workshop
Presenters:

Regina DiBella (CAL)
Christy Shepherd (CAL)
Beth DeVito (WIDA)
Marcy Olson (WIDA)

Description:
Curious about the new WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten (K ACCESS) test? Join this session to preview what’s changed and learn some tips on administering the redesigned assessment. We’ll use the new rubrics to practice scoring actual student speaking and writing responses. You’ll leave with a better understanding of the updated Kindergarten ACCESS and how to prepare for administering the test.

Carolina TESOL Conference 2025 - Multilingual Multimodal Activities, Amplifying Voices
2025-11-06
“Multilingual Multimodal Activities, Aplifying Voices”
Event: Carolina TESOL 2025
Date: Thursday, November 6, 2025
Session Format: Presentation
Presenter:

Amy Simpson-Burden

Join us to explore multilingual, multimodal activity creation, amplifying student voices and stories. This interactive session shares building blocks for these assessments, developed with NC educators and piloted in NC classrooms, empowering elementary teachers to create engaging, culturally appropriate learning experiences.

NCSTA 2025 Conference Presentation: Let's See What Multilingual Kids Can Really Do: Making Science Assessment Serve Your Students Needs.
2025-11-07
“Let’s See What Multilingual Kids Can Really Do: Making Science Assessment Serve Your Students Needs”
Event: North Carolina Science Teachers Association (NCSTA) Conference
Location: Winston 3A
Date: Friday, November 7, 2025
Time: 2:40 p.m.
Session Format: Presentation
Presenters:

Silvia McDonald, NCDPI, ML/Title III Consultant, M2-Si Principal Investigator
Keira Ballantyne, CAL, VP of Programs and Development, Co-Principal Investigator
Amy Burden, CAL, M2-Si Test Development Manager
Brittany York, CAL, M2-Si Senior Research Assistant

Description:
M2-Si–a collaborative project between NCDPI and the Center for Applied Linguistics–brings interactive science activities to multilingual students and their families. These activities meet students where they are while assessing content aligned to the 2023 NC Science Standard Course of Study and proficiency statements. We invite you for a first look at our innovative e-portfolio infused with multilingual and multimodal supports that will be available statewide! You’ll leave with classroom-ready resources and best practices for implementation.

La Cosecha Conference 2025- Leveraging Students’ Whole Linguistic Repertoires to Enhance their Bilingualism and Biliteracy Development
2025-11-12
“Leveraging students’ Whole Linguistic Repertoires to Enhance their Bilingualism and Biliteracy Development”
Event: La Cosecha 2025
Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Session Format: Pre-Conference Institute
Presenter(s):

Igone Arteagoitia (CAL)

Description:
This session will provide participants working in Spanish-English dual language programs with the opportunity to enhance their pedagogical language knowledge by examining similarities and differences between Spanish and English as they relate to:

Pragmatics (language use at the discourse level)
Syntax (sentence structure)
Morphology and the lexicon (word parts and vocabulary)
Phonology and orthography (sound-letter correspondences)

At the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) identify systems and structures of Spanish and English; and 2) use methods for teaching similarities and differences between the two languages that promote students’ metalinguistic awareness. Practical classroom-based instructional strategies and opportunities to put them into practice will be embedded throughout the session.
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La Cosecha Conference 2025 Presentation - Lessons Learned from CAL Dual Language Bilingual Education Program Reviews
2025-11-13
“Lessons Learned from CAL Dual Language Education Program Reviews”
Event: La Cosecha 2025
Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025, 9:10 – 10:00 am
Session Format: Presentation
Presenter(s):

Igone Arteagoitia (CAL)

Description:
CAL conducts reviews of dual language bilingual education (DLBE) programs using the Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education (Howard et al., 2018) as the theoretical framework and the third pillar of Sociocultural Competence as the compass. This session will report on key themes related to commonalities found across programs reflecting each of the seven strands outlined in the Guiding Principles. Participants will learn of practices that are common across programs, including those that lead to effectively educating students to meet the three pillars of DLBE and recommendations for improvement.

La Cosecha 2025 Conference Presentation: Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education: Updating for Authenticity and Innovation
2025-11-13
“Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education: Updating for Authenticity and Innovation”
Event: La Cosecha 2025
Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025, 10:50 – 12:10 pm Location: Nambe/Navajo Room
Session Format: Presentation
Presenter(s):

Analleli Hernández (CAL)
Diep Nguyen (CAL)
Ester de Jong (University of Colorado Boulder)

Calling all dual language education stakeholders! It’s been over seven years since Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education (GPDLE), edition 3 was published and it’s time for an update to this important, widely used resource. Join the Center for Applied Linguistics for a session to help shape the future of the next edition! This initial feedback-focused session will invite participants to share their experience using GPDLE to implement quality dual language bilingual education (DLBE) programming and reflect on what needs to be updated and included for the next generation of DLBE programs.

VATESOL 2025 Conference Presentation - "Bless Your Heart" Leadership Strategies in Virginia's Low-Incidences EL
2025-11-13
“Bless Your Heart” Leadership Strategies in Virginia’s Low-Incidences EL Programs”
Event: VATESOL 2025
Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
Session Format: Presentation
Presenter:

Kia Johnson

This session presents findings from a qualitative study exploring how EL program leaders in Virginia’s low-incidence districts navigate language program implementation amidst limited resources, shifting demographics, and compliance pressures. Drawing from interviews and EL program handbook analysis, the session introduces the Bless Your Heart (BYH) Leadership framework, a contextually responsive model grounded in distributive justice and adaptive leadership theory.

Multilingual Illinois 2025 Statewide Conference Presentation: Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education: Updating for Authenticity and Innovation
2025-12-04 08:00 - 17:00 UTC
“Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education: Updating for Authenticity and Innovation”
Event: Multilingual Illinois 2025 Statewide Conference
Location: South Pavilion 1
Date: December 9, 2025
Session Format: Presentation
Presenters:

Analleli Hernández (Center for Applied Linguistics)

Description:
Calling all dual language education stakeholders! It’s been over seven years since Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education (GPDLE), edition 3 was published and it’s time for an update to this important, widely used resource. Join the Center for Applied Linguistics for a session to help shape the future of the next edition! This feedback-focused session will invite participants to share their experience using GPDLE to implement quality dual language bilingual education (DLBE) programming and reflect on what needs to be updated and included for the next generation of DLBE programs.
