Georgia

Recently, the Georgia State Board of Education adopted a series of K-5 performance standards which enables us to offer a full K-12 series in Modern Languages, as well as series in Latin, American Sign Language, Spanish for Native Speakers and Native Languages Reading and Literacy.

Between 2009 and 2010, Georgia saw a five percent increase in the number of 6-12 students enrolled in one or more World Languages. After researching this exciting but unprecedented one year growth trend, we found the reason to be a sharp increase in enrollment in our rural areas. Since adoption of the single diploma for graduation, counselors and other advisors have been recommending that all students enroll in at least two years of language study (rather than just those planning to attend college). Consequently, we are reviewing the Georgia Performance Standards to add supplemental guidance pieces for the 16 clusters supported by our Career, Technical and Agricultural Education. The first rollout of these World Languages/Career Tech guidance pieces will include the Law Enforcement and Medical pathways and will target regions of the state in which enrollment in these pathways is particularly strong.

In 2010, we adopted a memorandum of understanding with the Nancy-Metz region of France. Through this agreement, we targeted seven schools in Georgia and Nancy-Metz and facilitated training in development of online partnerships.

Through our partnership with the German Consulate, students are taking advantage of the Paschnet network of high-performing German schools and Deutschessprachdiplom (DSD) proficiency exam, offering a means of proficiency measurement supported through the German government. This year, Chamblee High School in DeKalb County, Georgia became one of only 20 schools in the nation to offer this prestigious exam to students. Over twenty students passed the exam with results that would enable them to study at German universities free of charge.

Georgia has been chosen to take part in the pilot rollout of the new online LinguaFolio portfolio. Currently, over twenty teachers, as well as their students, are part of this pilot.

This summer, we will offer our second Summer World Languages Leadership Institute in Dahlonega, Georgia at North Georgia College and State University. Through this initiative, we hope to develop a cadre of highly-skilled teacher-leaders who can share their expertise and help to train teachers in school districts throughout the state. The first rollout of this leadership training event was very successful, and provided an opportunity to focus training and development in rural systems.

For the second year, City Schools of Decatur tested all of their elementary school students using the NOELLA test. This represents the first time in Georgia history that a FLES program has measured the results of proficiency growth and included these results in system-wide reports.

We have re-launched the Georgia International Education Statewide Advisory group, and intend to include members from the Georgia business community along with teachers, administrators, and university faculty.

Finally, we are thrilled to announce the inauguration of Georgia’s Dual Language/ Two-Way Immersion Affiliate Group. There are currently four Spanish Dual Immersion schools in Georgia. Santillana Publishing, Georgia State University, and the Georgia Department of Education sponsored the launch of this affiliate with a day-long workshop at GSU. Over 50 teachers and administrators attended and discussed trends and goals for expanding Dual Language teaching in Georgia. Due to the overwhelming need for bilingual teachers certified in Early Childhood Education, we are working with our colleagues in ESOL/Title III to provide training for teachers planning to take the GACE Certification Exam.

Contact information: Jon Valentine at JValentine@doe.k12.ga.us

Updated September 2011