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Sacramento, Calif. –– First 5 California released Quick Facts: Professional Development to Support Teachers of Young Dual Language Learners in California, a new brief by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) highlighting the challenges early learning and care programs face and the support they need to ensure early childhood educators receive specialized training to serve dual language learners (DLLs). This study is …

加州沙加緬度 – First 5 California公佈了名為Professional Development to Support Teachers of Young Dual Language Learners in California（支援加州雙語學童教師專業培訓的重點陳述）。這份由美國研究學院（American Institutes for Research， AIR）提出的最新摘要報告強調學前教育和照顧面臨的挑戰，以及確保學前教育老師接受如何教導雙語兒童（DLLs）專業培訓的重要性。這項調查是First 5 California斥資2000萬美元提倡為學習一種以上語言的學童提供優質學習環境之努力的一部分。這份根據訪問加州各地學前計劃負責人之結果整理而成，具代表性的摘要報告刊載在網站https://californiadllstudy.org/reports。 加州有將近60%的幼童屬於雙語學童（DLLs）。雙語學童的定義是從出生到五歲之間學習除英語之外另一種語言的幼童。2019年加州98%持有執照的學前教育中心和70%持有執照的家庭式托兒所（FCCHs）照顧至少一名雙語學童。研究結果顯示雙語學童如果能在幼童時期得到英語和家庭語言的適當支援，日後在學業上的成就會更高。 但是許多教師缺乏如何教導雙語學童的培訓， 同時許多學前教育計劃缺乏能說學童家庭語言的教師，因而無法與學童的家人充分溝通。這次的調查結果顯示，78%的學前教育中心和69%的家庭式托兒所表示缺乏足夠受過如何教導雙語學童專業培訓的教師。儘管如此，只有25%的學前教育中心和托兒計劃要求工作人員參與以教導和支援雙語學童為重點的專業培訓。  “學前教育專業人員需要額外支援，提供他們參與教師培訓的機會和正確反映他們對學童、家庭、及社會之重要價值的工資。沒有用心構建的完整系統和受過適當培訓的工作人員來支援，我們就無法實現雙語教育的益處，”First 5 California委員會成員兼非營利倡言機構The Children’s Partnership總裁Mayra E. Alvarez表示。 另外一項在2020年七月以學前計劃負責人為對象的調查結果彰顯出新冠病毒（COVID-19）(https://www.air.org/project/impact-covid-19-early-learning-and-care-california) 對繼續提供學齡前幼童照顧造成的影響。得到在學校停課期間如何支援雙語學童的指南或資源的學前計劃不及總數的四分之一。  “如果教師無法接受如何滿足雙語兒童特殊學習需求的培訓，就等於是把極大部分的加州兒童排除在充分得到學前教育益處之外，”Early Edge California執行總監Patricia Lozano表示。“我們一旦忽視這些兒童，就等於對他們在學業和人生的最終成就建立長期障礙。如果我們能夠適當培訓教師如何教導雙語學童，就能確保全加州的兒童都能公平接受優質的學前教育。” 1998年通過的227號提案嚴格限制從幼稚園到12年級的雙語教育，徹底瓦解了雙語教學。然而近年來加州民眾的態度逐漸轉變，2016年通過的58號提案推翻了227號提案。此外，從大約2008年開始，日益充裕的資源提供教師必須的教學工具，讓他們更能夠在課堂中建立各地學前教育的指導方針。First 5 California為了辨識有效教學的統計方式，在2017年推出Dual Language Learner Pilot Study（雙語學童前導研究）。加州州長Gavin Newsom更在近期的Master Plan for Early Learning and Care: California for All Kids（學前教育和照顧總體計劃：每一個加州兒童都包括在內）將對雙語學童的支援列為優先項目。 加州對支援雙語學童，讓他們在學業上充分發揮潛力，既有機會，更有責任。  “由於加州學前教育及照顧計劃中的雙語學童人數眾多，上述調查的結果確認了州長學前教育和照顧總體計劃中建議加強針對教導雙語學童的專業教師培訓機會，”加州學齡前兒童委員會First 5 California執行總監Camille …

Top Filipino artists plan to sing for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help end childhood cancer MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Dec. 10, 2020)– Calling all amateur singers who love caroling and wish to participate in the opportunity of a lifetime during the holiday season of giving. Several top Filipino artists plan to lend their voices in a virtual karaoke for  St. …

Stockton, CA — As San Joaquin County reports the largest increase in daily and weekly COVID-19 cases since its summer peak, San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) seeks to partner with the community in combating the increase by hosting free COVID-19 testing on site at its Downtown Transit Center (DTC).  According to a recent California Association for Coordinated Transportation (CalACT) …

Customer Protections, Financial-Assistance Programs and Other Resources Are Ready and Here to Help During These Trying Times SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.— As COVID-19 cases rise throughout the state, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) continues to offer support in numerous ways for customers navigating the unprecedented pandemic and reminds our customers that we’re here to help. “We immediately took action earlier …

Join Hearts in SF 2021, San Francisco General Hospital Foundation’s signature fundraising event. This year, come together virtually to honor the frontline healthcare heroes and lifesaving programs at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (ZSFG). The team at ZSFG goes above and beyond for every person they meet. So pledge your support for San Francisco’s extraordinary public hospital and get your ticket …

PG&E, The Foundation and PG&E Employees Recognize Giving Tuesday: Support Charities with Time, Talent and Resources SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — On this Giving Tuesday –a day that inspires people to give, collaborate and celebrate generosity– Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and The PG&E Corporation Foundation (The Foundation), together, will contribute approximately $250,000 to the American Red Cross, volunteer fire …

Madera County Department of Public Health (MCDPH), in collaboration with Madera Community Hospital and Camarena Health, encourage everyone, 6 months and older, to get their annual flu vaccine. Since COVID-19 and the flu can spread simultaneously, healthcare leaders are using National Influenza Vaccination Week to remind people that there is still time to get their seasonal flu vaccine. MCDPH will …

Non-profit organization hosts a virtual celebration featuring talented Asian American and Pacific Islander artists including Ruby Ibarra, Megan Lee, David Choi, CLARA, Ben Chung, and Jason Yang. LOS ANGELES –  On December 12,  Kollaboration will be virtually celebrating its 20 year anniversary of inspiring and promoting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) creative community in media and entertainment. The …

Join CAPE for a conversation with the cast and director of THE NEVER LIST, an upcoming indie film directed by Michelle Mower and starring Fivel Stewart, BooBoo Stewart, Keiko Agena, and Andrew Kai. Panel will be moderated by Michael Tow. After the sudden death of her best friend, a straight-laced teen sets out to fulfill the secret list of outrageous acts …