A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

APPLICATION NO      :    R215E40029 APPLICANT           :    Nebraska Department of Education                          301 Centennial Mall South                          P.O. Box 94987                          Lincoln, Nebraska  68509 CONTACT PERSON	    :    Mel Neilson TELEPHONE      	    :    (402) 471-2295 AWARD TO DATE       :    $340,000 PROJECT PERIOD      :    10/01/94-09/30/97 

The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) proposes a three-year project to create State Content Standards in foreign languages. Project objectives are to:

1. Develop State content standards in foreign language for grades kindergarten through 12.
2. Promote the adoption of the standards by state educational organizations and school districts across Nebraska.
3. Develop guidelines for effective approaches to teacher education which reflect the standards. K-12 Master Teachers and higher education content and pedagogy faculty will collaborate to design and pilot test methods courses.
4. Promote adoption of teacher education programs which reflect the standards.
5. Develop state certification endorsement requirements which reflect the standards.
6. Develop state requirements for teacher recertification which reflect the standards.
7. Design and pilot test a model in-service professional development program for teachers based on State content standards.

Multi-level teams will develop standards for grades K-3, 4-8, and 9-12. After study and review by a broad group, the standards will be presented for adoption and endorsement by the State Board of Education, and endorsement by professional organizations and local school boards. Symposia for school board members and for teacher preparation faculty will examine standards and begin the planning process. Teams of classroom teachers, teacher preparation faculty and others will design model teacher preparation guidelines and methods courses reflecting state standards.

The Nebraska Council on Teacher Education (NCTE) will collaborate to revise Foreign Language Certification Endorsement requirements. Model recertification guidelines will be developed for use by local districts. Master teachers will lead professional development workshops. Teachers will implement instructional modules in their classrooms. The Project will build on Nebraska's advanced telecommunications network. It will strengthen foreign language education in Nebraska by bringing curricula and instruction in line with state standards designed to prepare all students for higher education and for jobs.

[Statewide Framework...]

[Statewide Framework for K-12 Mathematics...]