UT Austin’s LUCHA program covered in Continuing Higher Education Review
The fall 2008 volume of the Continuing Higher Education Review includes “Launching LUCHA: Building a Binational Bridge to Biliteracy,” an article written by Dean Judy Ashcroft of Continuing & Innovative Education (CIE) at The University of Texas at Austin.
LUCHA (Language Learners at The University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Hispanic-Achievement) is an innovative initiative of the K-16 Education Center, a component of CIE. LUCHA is designed to help Hispanic learners whose first language is not English transition into public schools, thereby helping them to achieve success in school, college, and life. The article states that the integration of these children into public school systems is an issue that many states confront and is particularly critical in Texas.
The article chronicles the conception, implementation, and maintenance of this important program. It also provides a look at the impact LUCHA has had on students since its inception in 2006 (partial list):
- Number of students enrolled in a LUCHA course: 1,000
- Number of LUCHA courses requested: 2,351
- Total number of services to date: 4,246
- LUCHA is now being implemented in the five major regions in Texas with the largest populations of Hispanic learners whose first language is not English: Houston, Dallas, Austin, South Texas, and El Paso.
The article ends with a quote from Associate Dean Felipe Alanis of the K-16 Education Center reflecting his hope for the program’s future: “I am encouraged by the success of the program, and I look forward to assisting many more English language learners to successfully transition into and graduate from Texas high schools.”
The Continuing Higher Education Review is the professional journal of the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA).