IES Predoctoral Program Seminar: Dr. Jennifer Steele

The University of Pennsylvania Predoctoral Training Program in Interdisciplinary Research Methods for Field-based Research in Education, sponsored by the Institute for Education Sciences (IES), welcomes Dr. Jennifer Steele to our weekly seminar series.

Acheivement  Effects of Dual-language Immersion in One-Way and Two-Way Programs: Evidence from a State Scale-Up in Utah
Presented by Dr. Jennifer Steele, American University

 The rising U.S. demand for dual-language immersion (DLI) programs, which offer core instruction in two languages from early grades onward, has raised questions about program design and access. We leverage the rapid expansion of DLI schools across Utah to estimate effects of DLI program availability on the academic achievement of native English speakers and English learners (ELs) in programs that serve mainly the former (one-way) and those comprising one-to-two thirds of the latter (two-way). Adjusting for school fixed effects, cross-grade intent-to-treat estimates in one-way programs are largely null, but those in two-way programs reach 0.10-0.11 standard deviations in math and English and show higher EL reclassification rates by grade 5. Estimates suggest an advantage of cultural adjacency in program design. 

More information
The IES Predoctoral Program’s weekly seminar series connects program fellows and affiliates to scholars and practitioners who engage in educational research and the development of research methods.

Seminars are likely of interest to doctoral students and faculty. If you are interested in attending virtually, please email Melanie Bahti for Zoom information.