Utah Language Roadmap
Strategic Vision:
The State of Utah is developing a series of world language initiatives designed to engage and educate its citizens. Utah's population is already rich in multilingual and multicultural experience and these initiatives will harness and develop this native resource to create a competitive global workforce across the public and private sectors, both domestically and internationally.
Key leaders in Utah government, business, and education are coordinating their efforts and resources to develop global-centered policies, led by Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. "The people of our state are innovative and creative with the tremendous ability to grow and adapt to the ever-flattening world around us. Our success depends on our ability to think strategically addressing our biggest public policy challenges."
Utah's Global Positioning:
International trade ranks first in Utah's profile of economic indicators and recent export data from the US Department of Commerce illustrates two important statistics that help define Utah's unique business profile.
First, of all businesses exporting goods out of Utah in 2006, 85% were small to medium (less than 500 employees) emphasizing a strong entrepreneurial climate involved in international trade as referred to by Governor Huntsman.
Second, in four years (2003-2007), Utah's export shipments of merchandise increased 90% from 4.1 billion dollars to 7.8 billion dollars. Utah's growing international business population already draws significantly from its native resource of a multilingual and multicultural workforce and, as a result, Utah policy makers recognize the potential Utah has to become a global market leader with emphasis on futher development and refining of this important resource, beginning with Utah K-16+ students.
Engaging and Educating:
Several key policy initiatives in Utah beginning in 2006 identify Utah's government and education movement toward globalization of Utah's student population:
- Expansion of a full-time World Language Specialist in the Utah State Office of Education with authority to endorse language instruction in K-12 language programs, recommend distribution of legislative funding for language programs, coordinate articulation between K-12 and higher education language programs, and represent language policies in Utah State International Education.
- Governor's Collaboratino Meeting called by Utah Deputy of Education, Chrstine Kearl, to explore the possibility of a state international agenda that includes education initiatives.
- Senate Bill 80 (2007), Critical Languages Initiative, created Utah's critical language pilot program.
- Senate Bill 41 (2008), International Education Initiative, expansion of the critical language program and creation of the dual immersion pilot program, provides six years financial incentive for K-12 critical languages programs that demonstrate sustainability beyond the six year funding period.
- Creation of the Governor's Language Council which is given the mandate to review current language policy for Utah State, make recommendations to the Governor and Utah legislature and implement appropriate changes, many that were addressed during the Governor's Language Summit held in September 2008, a collaborative effort between the Utah State Office of Education, the BYU Chinese Flagship Center, and the Language Flagship.
- Development of a Utah State International Education Roadmap, including language policy recommendations brought forward from the Governor's Language Summit.
- Creation of innovative language-specific teaching degree programs to increase Utah classroom capacity.
Business Coordination with Education Initiatives:
The Governor's Language Summit 2008 played an important role in opening the dialogue between business, education, and government. This dialogue identified current use and importance of world language skills in the business sector, the methods and approaches by which these worls language skills should/could be achieved, and identifying ways in which the State of Utah government and education sectors can refine or enhance its programs to prepare Utah students to enter, contribute and lead in a global market.
