Shantel Meek

Apr 24, 2024 | tcf.org | Conor Williams |Jonathan Zabala |Shantel Meek |Maggie Marcus

Since the pandemic overturned public schools just over four years ago, researchers at The Century Foundation (TCF) have spent significant energy on studying—and mitigating—its impacts on historically marginalized children. TCF efforts have been particularly focused on English learners (ELs). When schools closed, TCF launched the English Learners Forum, where educators and advocates could share questions, resources, and ideas for meeting ELs’ needs during the pandemic.

Jan 29, 2024 | tcf.org | Jonathan Zabala |Conor Williams |Xigrid Soto-Boykin |Shantel Meek

Me llamo Josefina. Sí, it was a requirement to select an alter-ego of sorts for my high-school Spanish class. I chose the name from a list of other common Spanish names, like María and José. Josefina had a good ring to it, and it followed me throughout my high school Spanish career, from freshman through junior year. I chose this name, but I was unconsciously confused and bothered. Jazmín, the direct Spanish equivalent of my true name, could have worked just fine.

Sep 19, 2023 | tcf.org | Shantel Meek |Maggie Marcus |Jonathan Zabala |Conor Williams

In 2023, it’s clearer than perhaps ever before that facts have lost much of their power in shaping political debates. In recent years, American democratic discourse has become so unmoored from testable, verifiable facts that researchers have begun warning that the U.S. body politic is suffering from “truth decay.”This is a trend worth resisting.

Jun 19, 2023 | the74million.org | Conor Williams |Shantel Meek

Sections The 74 States should target more diverse alternative teacher training programs, remove English-only licensure exams and elevate existing bilingual staff. Education news and commentary, delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 newsletter. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox.

Jun 14, 2023 | tcf.org | Denise Smith |Conor Williams |Richard D. Kahlenberg |Shantel Meek

There is no question that American policymakers and power structures have often prioritized English proficiency to the exclusion of other languages—particularly as English has become a global lingua franca. Indeed, linguistic diversity in the United States is regularly targeted during periodic waves of U.S. anti-immigrant sentiments and corresponding political crusades.