Project Summary

The Education Alliance provided professional development funded by the HELP Coalition to teachers in the Providence School District in the form of coursework, training, and classroom consultation. Established in 1994 by six private, not-for-profit hospitals and four private, independent colleges and universities (including Brown) located in Providence, HELP strategically developed partnerships to enhance its member organizations’ programs focused on the well-being of children and families in Providence.

The work of The Education Alliance, in collaboration with Providence College, was in response to the Providence School District’s request for graduate courses leading to content-area ESL endorsement for teachers with no academic background in issues of language and culture. Over 40 courses focused on teaching linguistically and culturally diverse learner populations, and were complemented by follow-up training sessions and consultations in classrooms to assist teachers in implementing more effective instructional practices.