COMPETITIVE GRANTS
DISTRICT DIRECTOR
Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.
Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:
Union
Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal
Funded by:
In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore;
the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria
Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results
from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant
titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for
the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million
dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago
area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education,
the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching
funds available.
As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts
in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established,
developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES
program content enriched." This program provided Italian language
instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade
as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools
developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering
Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty
minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social
studies.
Washington,
D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.
Funded by:
In 1995 Dr. Lombardo
wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way
of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her
entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant
she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing
with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally,
the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington,
D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and
the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international
conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United
States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and
reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.
The
intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian
Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators
together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective
strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs
where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about
exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate
the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian
American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes
of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present
models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture
in the United States and abroad.
 The
Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference,
was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators
Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan
Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen
John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa,
John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini,
Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone,
James Oberstar, James Traficant, and
Robert Torricelli.
This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a
leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian
culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which
is threatened with extinction in the United States.
Boston, Massachusetts
1982
New York City, New York 1983
The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and
$275,000 from School Districts
To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically
not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to
examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in
the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors
of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and
c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations
in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school,
bilingual
education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their
children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various
school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo
wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded
it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This
was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer
work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She
developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring
out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training
programs for Italian immigrant
parents with bilingual children enrolled in American
schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo,
who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance
for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education
programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent
of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore,"
she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education
that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans,
although parents were interested in having their children educated, most
of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at
home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the
Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's
schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The
reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system,
whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community
participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could
help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this
program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization
of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of
parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved
in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their
children.
Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American
Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987,
and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent
Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools,"
ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.
COMPETITIVE GRANTS
DISTRICT DIRECTOR
Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.
Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:
Union
Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal
Funded by:
In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore;
the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria
Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results
from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant
titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for
the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million
dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago
area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education,
the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching
funds available.
As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts
in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established,
developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES
program content enriched." This program provided Italian language
instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade
as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools
developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering
Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty
minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social
studies.
Washington,
D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.
Funded by:
In 1995 Dr. Lombardo
wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way
of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her
entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant
she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing
with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally,
the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington,
D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and
the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international
conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United
States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and
reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.
The
intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian
Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators
together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective
strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs
where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about
exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate
the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian
American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes
of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present
models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture
in the United States and abroad.
 The
Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference,
was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators
Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan
Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen
John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa,
John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini,
Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone,
James Oberstar, James Traficant, and
Robert Torricelli.
This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a
leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian
culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which
is threatened with extinction in the United States.
Boston, Massachusetts
1982
New York City, New York 1983
The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and
$275,000 from School Districts
To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically
not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to
examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in
the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors
of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and
c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations
in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school,
bilingual
education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their
children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various
school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo
wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded
it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This
was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer
work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She
developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring
out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training
programs for Italian immigrant
parents with bilingual children enrolled in American
schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo,
who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance
for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education
programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent
of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore,"
she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education
that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans,
although parents were interested in having their children educated, most
of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at
home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the
Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's
schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The
reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system,
whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community
participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could
help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this
program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization
of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of
parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved
in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their
children.
Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American
Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987,
and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent
Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools,"
ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.
COMPETITIVE GRANTS
DISTRICT DIRECTOR
Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.
Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:
Union
Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal
Funded by:
In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore;
the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria
Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results
from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant
titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for
the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million
dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago
area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education,
the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching
funds available.
As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts
in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established,
developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES
program content enriched." This program provided Italian language
instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade
as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools
developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering
Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty
minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social
studies.
Washington,
D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.
Funded by:
In 1995 Dr. Lombardo
wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way
of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her
entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant
she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing
with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally,
the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington,
D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and
the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international
conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United
States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and
reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.
The
intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian
Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators
together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective
strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs
where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about
exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate
the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian
American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes
of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present
models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture
in the United States and abroad.
 The
Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference,
was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators
Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan
Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen
John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa,
John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini,
Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone,
James Oberstar, James Traficant, and
Robert Torricelli.
This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a
leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian
culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which
is threatened with extinction in the United States.
Boston, Massachusetts
1982
New York City, New York 1983
The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and
$275,000 from School Districts
To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically
not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to
examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in
the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors
of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and
c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations
in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school,
bilingual
education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their
children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various
school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo
wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded
it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This
was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer
work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She
developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring
out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training
programs for Italian immigrant
parents with bilingual children enrolled in American
schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo,
who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance
for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education
programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent
of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore,"
she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education
that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans,
although parents were interested in having their children educated, most
of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at
home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the
Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's
schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The
reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system,
whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community
participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could
help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this
program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization
of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of
parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved
in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their
children.
Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American
Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987,
and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent
Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools,"
ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.
COMPETITIVE GRANTS
DISTRICT DIRECTOR
Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.
Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:
Union
Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal
Funded by:
In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore;
the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria
Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results
from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant
titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for
the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million
dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago
area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education,
the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching
funds available.
As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts
in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established,
developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES
program content enriched." This program provided Italian language
instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade
as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools
developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering
Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty
minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social
studies.
Washington,
D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.
Funded by:
In 1995 Dr. Lombardo
wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way
of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her
entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant
she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing
with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally,
the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington,
D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and
the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international
conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United
States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and
reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.
The
intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian
Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators
together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective
strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs
where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about
exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate
the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian
American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes
of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present
models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture
in the United States and abroad.
 The
Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference,
was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators
Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan
Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen
John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa,
John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini,
Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone,
James Oberstar, James Traficant, and
Robert Torricelli.
This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a
leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian
culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which
is threatened with extinction in the United States.
Boston, Massachusetts
1982
New York City, New York 1983
The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and
$275,000 from School Districts
To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically
not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to
examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in
the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors
of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and
c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations
in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school,
bilingual
education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their
children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various
school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo
wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded
it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This
was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer
work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She
developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring
out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training
programs for Italian immigrant
parents with bilingual children enrolled in American
schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo,
who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance
for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education
programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent
of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore,"
she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education
that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans,
although parents were interested in having their children educated, most
of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at
home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the
Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's
schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The
reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system,
whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community
participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could
help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this
program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization
of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of
parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved
in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their
children.
Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American
Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987,
and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent
Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools,"
ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.
COMPETITIVE GRANTS
DISTRICT DIRECTOR
Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.
Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:
Union
Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal
Funded by:
In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore;
the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria
Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results
from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant
titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for
the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million
dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago
area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education,
the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching
funds available.
As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts
in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established,
developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES
program content enriched." This program provided Italian language
instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade
as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools
developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering
Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty
minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social
studies.
Washington,
D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.
Funded by:
In 1995 Dr. Lombardo
wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way
of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her
entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant
she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing
with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally,
the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington,
D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and
the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international
conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United
States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and
reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.
The
intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian
Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators
together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective
strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs
where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about
exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate
the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian
American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes
of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present
models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture
in the United States and abroad.
 The
Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference,
was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators
Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan
Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen
John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa,
John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini,
Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone,
James Oberstar, James Traficant, and
Robert Torricelli.
This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a
leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian
culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which
is threatened with extinction in the United States.
Boston, Massachusetts
1982
New York City, New York 1983
The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and
$275,000 from School Districts
To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically
not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to
examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in
the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors
of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and
c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations
in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school,
bilingual
education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their
children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various
school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo
wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded
it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This
was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer
work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She
developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring
out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training
programs for Italian immigrant
parents with bilingual children enrolled in American
schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo,
who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance
for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education
programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent
of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore,"
she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education
that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans,
although parents were interested in having their children educated, most
of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at
home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the
Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's
schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The
reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system,
whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community
participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could
help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this
program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization
of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of
parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved
in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their
children.
Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American
Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987,
and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent
Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools,"
ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.
COMPETITIVE GRANTS
DISTRICT DIRECTOR
Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.
Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:
Union
Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal
Funded by:
In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore;
the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria
Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results
from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant
titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for
the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million
dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago
area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education,
the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching
funds available.
As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts
in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established,
developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES
program content enriched." This program provided Italian language
instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade
as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools
developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering
Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty
minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social
studies.
Washington,
D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.
Funded by:
In 1995 Dr. Lombardo
wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way
of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her
entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant
she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing
with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally,
the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington,
D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and
the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international
conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United
States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and
reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.
The
intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian
Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators
together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective
strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs
where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about
exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate
the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian
American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes
of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present
models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture
in the United States and abroad.
 The
Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference,
was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators
Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan
Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen
John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa,
John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini,
Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone,
James Oberstar, James Traficant, and
Robert Torricelli.
This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a
leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian
culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which
is threatened with extinction in the United States.
Boston, Massachusetts
1982
New York City, New York 1983
The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and
$275,000 from School Districts
To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically
not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to
examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in
the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors
of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and
c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations
in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school,
bilingual
education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their
children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various
school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo
wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded
it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This
was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer
work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She
developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring
out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training
programs for Italian immigrant
parents with bilingual children enrolled in American
schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo,
who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance
for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education
programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent
of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore,"
she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education
that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans,
although parents were interested in having their children educated, most
of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at
home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the
Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's
schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The
reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system,
whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community
participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could
help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this
program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization
of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of
parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved
in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their
children.
Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American
Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987,
and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent
Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools,"
ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.
COMPETITIVE GRANTS
DISTRICT DIRECTOR
Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.
Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:
Union
Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal
Funded by:
In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore;
the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria
Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results
from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant
titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for
the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million
dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago
area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education,
the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching
funds available.
As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts
in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established,
developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES
program content enriched." This program provided Italian language
instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade
as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools
developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering
Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty
minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social
studies.
Washington,
D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.
Funded by:
In 1995 Dr. Lombardo
wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way
of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her
entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant
she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing
with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally,
the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington,
D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and
the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international
conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United
States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and
reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.
The
intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian
Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators
together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective
strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs
where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about
exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate
the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian
American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes
of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present
models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture
in the United States and abroad.
 The
Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference,
was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators
Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan
Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen
John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa,
John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini,
Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone,
James Oberstar, James Traficant, and
Robert Torricelli.
This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a
leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian
culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which
is threatened with extinction in the United States.
Boston, Massachusetts
1982
New York City, New York 1983
The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and
$275,000 from School Districts
To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically
not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to
examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in
the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors
of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and
c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations
in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school,
bilingual
education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their
children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various
school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo
wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded
it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This
was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer
work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She
developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring
out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training
programs for Italian immigrant
parents with bilingual children enrolled in American
schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo,
who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance
for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education
programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent
of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore,"
she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education
that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans,
although parents were interested in having their children educated, most
of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at
home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the
Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's
schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The
reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system,
whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community
participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could
help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this
program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization
of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of
parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved
in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their
children.
Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American
Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987,
and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent
Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools,"
ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.
COMPETITIVE GRANTS
DISTRICT DIRECTOR
Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.
Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:
Union
Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal
Funded by:
In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore;
the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria
Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results
from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant
titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for
the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million
dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago
area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education,
the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching
funds available.
As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts
in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established,
developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES
program content enriched." This program provided Italian language
instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade
as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools
developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering
Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty
minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social
studies.
Washington,
D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.
Funded by:
In 1995 Dr. Lombardo
wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way
of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her
entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant
she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing
with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally,
the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington,
D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and
the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international
conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United
States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and
reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.
The
intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian
Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators
together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective
strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs
where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about
exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate
the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian
American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes
of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present
models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture
in the United States and abroad.
 The
Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference,
was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators
Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan
Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen
John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa,
John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini,
Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone,
James Oberstar, James Traficant, and
Robert Torricelli.
This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a
leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian
culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which
is threatened with extinction in the United States.
Boston, Massachusetts
1982
New York City, New York 1983
The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and
$275,000 from School Districts
To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically
not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to
examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in
the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors
of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and
c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations
in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school,
bilingual
education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their
children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various
school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo
wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded
it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This
was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer
work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She
developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring
out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training
programs for Italian immigrant
parents with bilingual children enrolled in American
schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo,
who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance
for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education
programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent
of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore,"
she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education
that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans,
although parents were interested in having their children educated, most
of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at
home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the
Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's
schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The
reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system,
whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community
participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could
help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this
program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization
of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of
parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved
in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their
children.
Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American
Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987,
and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent
Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools,"
ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.
COMPETITIVE GRANTS
DISTRICT DIRECTOR
Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.
Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:
Union
Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal
Funded by:
In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore;
the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria
Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results
from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant
titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for
the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million
dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago
area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education,
the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching
funds available.
As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts
in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established,
developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES
program content enriched." This program provided Italian language
instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade
as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools
developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering
Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty
minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social
studies.
Washington,
D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.
Funded by:
In 1995 Dr. Lombardo
wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way
of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her
entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant
she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing
with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally,
the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington,
D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and
the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international
conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United
States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and
reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.
The
intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian
Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators
together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective
strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs
where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about
exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate
the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian
American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes
of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present
models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture
in the United States and abroad.
 The
Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference,
was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators
Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan
Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen
John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa,
John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini,
Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone,
James Oberstar, James Traficant, and
Robert Torricelli.
This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a
leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian
culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which
is threatened with extinction in the United States.
Boston, Massachusetts
1982
New York City, New York 1983
The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and
$275,000 from School Districts
To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically
not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to
examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in
the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors
of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and
c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations
in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school,
bilingual
education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their
children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various
school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo
wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded
it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This
was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer
work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She
developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring
out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training
programs for Italian immigrant
parents with bilingual children enrolled in American
schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo,
who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance
for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education
programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent
of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore,"
she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education
that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans,
although parents were interested in having their children educated, most
of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at
home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the
Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's
schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The
reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system,
whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community
participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could
help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this
program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization
of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of
parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved
in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their
children.
Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American
Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987,
and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent
Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools,"
ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.
COMPETITIVE GRANTS
DISTRICT DIRECTOR
Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.
Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:
Union
Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal
Funded by:
In a unified effort, the Italian consulate of Chicago through Anna Fiore;
the Union Ridge School District 86 through Dr. Raymond Kuper; and Dr. Maria
Lombardo prepared a foreign language proposal that rendered successful results
from the U.S. Department of Education. The Foreign Language Assistance Grant
titled "Language and Learning for the Future: Global Education for
the Global World" constituted a total matching fund of 4.3 million
dollars for continuing and establishing the Italian language in Chicago
area schools for the next three years. The U.S. Department of Education,
the Italian consulate and the Union Ridge School District 86 made the matching
funds available.
As a result of this grant, nine suburban schools from six school districts
in the Chicago area, the Italian government and community groups established,
developed and implemented an innovative model of foreign language "FLES
program content enriched." This program provided Italian language
instruction to 2,274 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade
as part of the regular school day. Through this grant the nine schools
developed a sequential integrated curriculum in Grades K-8 by delivering
Italian language instruction three times a week, from forty to sixty
minutes each time, including immersion units in art, music and social
studies.
Washington,
D.C. 1995
Preserving, Promoting The Italian Language & Culture in the U.S.A.
Funded by:
In 1995 Dr. Lombardo
wrote a proposal to the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to conduct a conference in Washington, D.C., as way
of preserving and promoting Italian language in the United States. Her
entire proposal was based on the research and implementation of a grant
she had funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982. Competing
with various Italian American organizations and universities nationally,
the NIAF, together with the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington,
D.C., was awarded funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and
the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a major international
conference to discuss the status of Italian language study in the United
States, and to develop strategies for establishing, maintaining and
reinstating Italian language and culture programs throughout the country.
The
intent of the conference "Preserving and Promoting the Italian
Language and Culture in Washington D.C." was to bring educators
together from Italy, Canada and the U.S. to discuss the most effective
strategies for starting Italian programs and, maintaining Italian programs
where they existed. A critical focus was to help teachers learn about
exemplary programs. Another central concern was to discuss how to educate
the general public about the positive aspects of the Italian and Italian
American history and culture, thus eradicating the negative stereotypes
of the Mafia etc. This International conference was held to present
models for maintaining and promoting the Italian language and culture
in the United States and abroad.
 The
Advisory Committee, which set the agenda for the language conference,
was comprised of U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, including: Senators
Patrick Leahy and Richard Santorum; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Susan
Molinari, Constance Morella, Nancy Pelosi and Marge Roukema; and Congressmen
John Baldacci, Sonny Bono, Mike Doyle, Thomas Foglietta, Dan Frisa,
John LaFalce, Rick Lazio, Frank LoBiondo, Donald Manzullo, Bill Martini,
Frank Mascara, John Mica, George Miller, Joe Moakley, Frank Pallone,
James Oberstar, James Traficant, and
Robert Torricelli.
This stimulating international conference established the NIAF as a
leader and pioneer in providing a forum for the promotion of Italian
culture and, in particular, the Italian language, the study of which
is threatened with extinction in the United States.
Boston, Massachusetts
1982
New York City, New York 1983
The Italian American Parent Training Institutes of Parents and Teachers
Parent Training- $184,000 from U.S. Department of Education and
$275,000 from School Districts
To help Italian parents, who were from Southern Italy and had historically
not taken part in the American schools. The scope of the project was to
examine the impact of training upon: a) parents' active participation in
the schools and political structure of the bilingual programs; b) the behaviors
of parents as to the activities that they conduct with their children and
c) the reading achievement of bilingual, elementary age children. Presentations
in the program introduced parents to the structure of the American school,
bilingual
education, and reading skills and activities that they can do with their
children on a day-to-day basis, and parents to work as aides in the various
school programs. Based on research and practical experience, in 1982, Lombardo
wrote a proposal for a Parent Training Program. When the program was funded
it financed Lombardo's position as Education Director for NIAF. This
was a dream come true. Lombardo had the opportunity to do some serious pioneer
work using her education skills for the Italian American community. She
developed programs, always from the immigrant, creative prospective of figuring
out how to finance her ideas. In 1983, the NIAF conducted extensive training
programs for Italian immigrant
parents with bilingual children enrolled in American
schools. The programs were held in New York City and Boston. Dr. Maria Lombardo,
who headed the Parent Training Program, provided on site technical assistance
for the Italian American organizations seeking to expand bilingual education
programs. She noted that psychology findings indicate that fifty percent
of a child's intelligence is developed by age four. "Therefore,"
she said, "it becomes important for educators to assist in the education
that children receive in the home." In the case of Italian Americans,
although parents were interested in having their children educated, most
of them were unaware of reading and math activities that they could do at
home to help improve their children's academic achievement. Many of the
Italian American parents were not active participants in their children's
schools, even in those that had bilingual (English Italian) programs. The
reason for this may be that in Italy there is a centralized education system,
whereas in the U.S. decisions about the educational system occur with community
participation. Once the program was funded, parents learned how they could
help their children and further their own education. The outcomes of this
program were: the development of Parent Advisory Committees, organization
of parents in making their opinions known to school officials, voting of
parents at School Board elections, and training of parents who are involved
in their children's education see increases in the reading levels of their
children.
Two publications resulted from this program: "Italian American
Parent Training Institutes," Office of Bilingual Education, 1987,
and "Reading Skills and Activities for the Italian American Parent
Training Institutes of New York City and Boston Public Schools,"
ERIC Document Reproduction Service, 1984.
COMPETITIVE GRANTS
DISTRICT DIRECTOR
Dr. Lombardo conceptualized ideas for programs, wrote proposals,acquired funding, conducted the programs and had outside evaluators examine the programs' strengths and weaknesses. Often these programs became models for other Italian organizations to emulate.
Starting in 1981, Lombardo submitted many grants on behalf of NIAF to the Federal Government, Private Organizations, Italian Government, the University of Massachusetts at Burlington, Private Companies and Individuals:
Union
Ridge School District Consortium August , 2001
Foreign Language Proposal
Funded by:
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