The chinese advanced language (CAL) project will provide iltexas chinese teachers (119) with advanced professional development (PD) opportunities from 2023 to 2027 and provide over 4,000 students…

The International Leadership of Texas, Inc. was awarded a $3,441,544 Block Grant by the Department of Defense Education Activity under the Competitive Grants: Promoting K-12 Student Achievement at Military-Connected Schools program (CFDA 12.556). The grant will fund the Chinese Advanced Language Project to provide 119 ILTexas Chinese teachers with advanced professional development from 2023 through 2027, including training from three Chinese instructional coaches. Over 4,000 students in grades 9-12 will have access to a Chinese language and culture immersion summer camp annually from 2024 to 2026. The summer camp aims to improve Chinese language proficiency and cultural understanding among participants. Outcomes include increasing the language proficiency levels of over 21,000 ILTexas students with a focus on military-connected and JROTC students, with summer camp participants expected to achieve an advanced level of Chinese proficiency for college. The grant period runs from September 30, 2022 through May 31, 2027.

The chinese advanced language (CAL) project will provide iltexas chinese teachers (119) with advanced professional development (PD) opportunities from 2023 to 2027 and provide over 4,000 students (9-12 grades) access to a chinese language and culture immersion summer camp from 2024 to 2026. The advanced PD will offer chinese teachers, particularly those teaching intermediate and advanced level chinese courses, more resources, including training and instructions from three advanced chinese instructional coaches, which will result in higher quality chinese instruction for 21,000+ iltexas students. At the summer camp, students will study chinese in the morning and have chinese cultural activities in the afternoon. The outcomes of this summer camp are to improve the students' chinese language proficiency and increase their understanding of and continual interest in chinese culture. The CAL project is expected to increase the language proficiency level of all iltexas students, with a focus on military-connected and jrotc students. Participants of the summer camp are anticipated to achieve an advanced level of chinese language proficiency in college.