User:Cameronkalantar/Migrant education

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Internationals Network for Public Schools

The Internationals Network for Public Schools is a non-profit supporting public school in providing tailored curriculum for refugee students. In this network of over 30 schools spanning the United States, we see specialized learning environments that are designed for multilingual students. These schools emerged from the basement of a New York community college. Immediately popular and meeting a felt need, it inspired countless other schools in the area. At first, these programs were “funded through a Title VII grant as well as the Annenberg Challenge: New York Networks for School Renewal,” but eventually, as the demand grew greater and these programs gained public attention, it gained funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2004 and became a nonprofit network integrated into public school districts across the country. This nonprofit network, “does not function as a regulatory body, but rather as a support system that provides essential services to the schools—including professional development, mentorship, and research—and serves as the engine of new school growth”. While this network is a separate entity from the schools themselves, these schools are still categorized as public schools which is why they face scrutiny from more traditional educators for their alternative teaching methods.

This institution of schools integrates a variety of innovative teaching practices in hopes of providing a more equitable education for migrant students. One major educational strategy these schools utilize is deeper learning. Deeper learning goes beyond traditional practices such as lectures, basic homework assignments, and just exams. It is built more on collaborative learning, breaking down and talking through the process, and using the information in a real-world application to ensure these students fully grasp the material being taught. This practice also better prepares students of marginalized backgrounds for the realities of the world and ensures they can thrive in the real-world economy.

This strategy is critical for the education of English Language Learners as it is difficult to navigate the academic language with just a conversational understanding. Language of instruction and emotional learning are highlighted. Students learn new languages while at the same time using their home language in school as they adapt. These hands-on educational practices are paired with emotional and career support with counselors and welfare workers to address the significant turmoil these students have experienced.