In August, all Area Education Agencies from around the state and the Iowa Department of Education cooperated to bring Lynda Franco from the Center for Applied Linguistics to our state. She presented via the ICN (Iowa Communications Network) for two days to 111 teachers on the topic "Enhancing English Language Learning in the Elementary Classroom." Contact your local Area Education Agency or the Iowa Department of Education for events that she will conduct in the future on the same topic at the secondary level.

On September 20 and 21, 2001, Area Education Agency 6 along with the Iowa Department of Education hosted Dr. Alba Ortiz from the University of Texas at Austin for two days of workshops focusing on ESOL and Special Education. Nearly 300 persons from around the state attended.

The 2002 Language and Cultural Concerns Conference (formerly known as the Iowa Dept of Education ESL/Bilingual Education /Refugee Concerns Conference) will be held February 20-21 at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Des Moines Iowa (across from the airport). The theme for this year's conference is "Diversity and Unity in the Heartland." Keynote speakers are Dr. Khatharya Urn, Assistant Professor, Asian American Studies Program, University of California, Berkeley; Mr. Frank Sharry, Executive Director, National Immigration Forum, Washington, D.C.; and Ms. Patricia Davenport, Associate Director, Education Initiative at the American Productivity and Quality Center, Houston, Texas. General conference inquiries may be made to Helene Kaplan 515/270-0405 or 800/255-0405 ex. 4635, or e-mail to hkaplan@aea11.k12.ia.us.