Project Description:
Burke, M. (PI), Boon, R. (PI), Bowman-Perrott, L. (PI), Padilla, K. (Co-PI) & Tong, F. (Co-
PI). (2021-2026). Project ¡LEER! Literacy, Language, and Social-Emotional Support for English Learners with and without Disabilities in Inclusive Settings to Improve Reading Outcomes. U.S. Department of Education, Office of English Language Acquisition. (Funded, Total award $2,959,258).
Project LEER Summary
Project ¡LEER! will develop and provide Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and professional development (PD) to improve the reading outcomes of English Learners (ELs) with and without disabilities. Spanish is the predominant language commonly spoken by ELs in Texas where there is a critical need for services and support (90%; Texas Education Agency/Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS; 2018-2019). Project ¡LEER! in coordination with the Region 1 Education Service Center (see interim executive director letter of support) will provide PD to underserved areas of Texas within the Rio Grande Valley, where some of the highest concentrations of ELs (e.g., 30-40%) are enrolled. Moreover, Project ¡LEER! will partner with the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD, see superintendent letter of support) to provide MTSS PD to schools with large percentages of ELs with and without disabilities.
Brief Updates:
-We've received IRB approval at all three of our universities (TAMU, Baylor, and UTSA), as well as from San Antonio ISD for the research component of our grant (implementing peer tutoring with English learners with and without disabilities).
-We have met regularly as PIs, and we've met with Region 1 and San Antonio ISD administrators and principals to discuss participation in Project LEER and begin recruiting schools for the peer tutoring intervention
-We've conducted five professional development sessions virtually, in person, and hybrid for general education teachers and special education teachers. There have also been some bilingual education teachers in attendance.
-We are almost finished designing our website; it should be ready to launch this fall.
-We're developing peer tutoring materials and a manual in preparation for our pilot study and larger intervention study.
