Resources Aren't Self-Activating

In my state of Utah (as well as the nation) the student population demographics are changing. The number of English Language Learners in our schools is growing exponentially. How we teach them will not only have an impact on the lives of the individual students, but also on the economic, social, and democratic life of our state and country.

Therefore, Governor Jon Huntsman's comment on Utah Now last night that he wants to allocate $7 million for the education of English Language Learners, caught my attention. I applaud him for wanting to address the needs of this population. It is my hope that he and others are asking some serious questions so that this $7 million can reap the greatest dividends:

1. What is the specific goal to be achieved? and by when?
2. How is this goal related to the vision and mission statement we have for the education of Utah's children?
3. Is there a strategic plan in place to achieve the goal--a plan that incorporates what research and experience demonstrate works for English Language Learners?
4. How will the $7 million be used to achieve the goal? What resources other than money are needed to achieve the goal and how are they being accessed?
5. How will we know if the goal is achieved--how will it be measured and evaluated?
6. Who is responsible and being held accountable for determining the goal, the development and implementation of the strategic plan, and for the evaluation of the plan?
7. Are there other ways this $7 million could be better utilized?

It's important to ask AND answer these questions because resources are not self-activating.