The UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies' School Management Program, a team of school-site and district educators dedicated since 1992 to partnering with learning communities to ensure high achievement for every student, has received a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support English-language learners in Connecticut schools.

The grant, awarded to program's Northeast region, will fund the Excellence for Connecticut English Language Learners (EX-CELL) project in that state's Ledyard, Montville, New London and Stratford school districts over the next five years.

The project will build the capacity of regular content-area teachers to deliver instruction in a way that makes knowledge accessible to English-language learner students in the mainstream classroom, to create an environment of high expectations and collaboration to support the success of English-language learners, and to establish a system of continuous improvement that will strengthen and sustain the program while contributing to the Education Department's national research database.

"Improving the achievement of English-language learners is a national priority," said Dan Chernow, executive director of the School Management Program. "This initiative provides our support to districts that are challenged with supporting English-language learners and helping them succeed in the classroom while also enhancing their English-language skills."

The grant is financed by the National Professional Development Program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students.

The UCLA School Management Program is a nonprofit initiative of the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies that collaborates with public school teachers and school administrators to improve education. Its mission is to ensure that students achieve the highest quality education. Working with educators, administrators and community members, the program creates well-managed schools, enhances teacher effectiveness and improves student achievement through professional development and community building.

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