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The Best of Our Knowledge # 954

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-799661.mp3

Albany, NY – THE LANGUAGE OF LEARNING - - "THE CALIFORNIA REPORT"
TEACHING THE TEACHERS -

California is ground zero when it comes to English language learners. More than one-third of the students meet the Limited English Proficiency standards.

As the number of immigrant students needing to learn English swells, so too does the need to prepare teachers how to teach them.

A recent study found that English proficiency is the biggest predictor of academic achievement for immigrant students.

In our special series earlier this year called The Language of Learning, "The California Report" explored the best way to teach the teachers how to cope with that state's burgeoning English language population.

TBOOK visited programs at Sacramento State University and San Jose State University. This has particular importance as we move forward in 2009.

Kathryn Baron reports. (5:36)

"GOOD SCHOOLS IN POOR NEIGHBORHOODS:
DEFYING DEMOGRAPHICS, ACHIEVING SUCCESS" -

After three years of ground breaking research, Dr. Pat Campbell published "Good School in Poor Neighborhoods."

Her book contrasts highly effective schools serving urban, low income, minority youth with their more typical struggling counterparts.

This study shows how schools in poor socio-economic areas can become effective sanctuaries of excellent education, and answers many questions we hear about how schools can accomplish this.

Glenn Busby reports. (8:09)

**(Attention listeners and program directors. For more information on the above story, please visit: www.campbell-kibler.com.)**

SCHOOL DESEGREGATION IN 1946 -

It's been more than fifty years since the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed segregation in public schools in the famous Brown v. Board of Education decision.

But in this truly amazing tale, there was a school that desegregated even long before it became the law of the land. And that school remains today in Alexandria, Virginia. This is a must hear story no one should miss.

Vicki Hayes reports. (5:46)