university+letter+to+college+administrators

 October, 2009

Ms./Mrs./Mr./Dr. first and last name, title [Go on the university website to get the title of the person and their address] address

Dear Ms./Mrs./Mr./Dr. first and last name, title [Use the same names as the inside address, including the personal title]

I am writing to seek your support for the position statement of the Iowa World Language Association, of which I am a member, on the need to include world languages in the Iowa Core Curriculum. I enclose a copy of the position statement with this letter.

The Iowa Core Curriculum has been designed by the Iowa Department of Education to prepare Iowa’s students for the demands of a 21st Century in which they will need to both compete and cooperate with international peers. The study of world languages is not included in the Iowa Core Curriculum in spite of national organizations declaring world languages a critical core content area.

In 2006 the Council of Chief State School Officers clarified that for students to reach their full potential and contribute most to society in the 21st century “high-quality and rigorous curricula including instruction in world languages and cultures” is needed. In a report released in 2007, the National Academy of Sciences’ National Research Council state that, “the pervasive lack of knowledge about foreign cultures and foreign languages threatens the security of the United States as well as its ability to compete in the global marketplace and produce an informed citizenry.”

The Iowa World Language Association does not believe that Iowa’s students will be well prepared for the 21st Century without the opportunity to study a world language as a core content area in the Iowa Core Curriculum. All of Iowa’s students should have the opportunity to study a world language beginning in early elementary school and continuing through high school and college.

The Iowa World Language Association asks, therefore, that you write a letter of support for the inclusion of world languages in the Iowa Core Curriculum. If your letter is received by November 13 it will be presented to the Iowa Department of Education together with the position statement and other letters of support from Iowa leaders in education and business.

Please address your letter of support to Sara Blanco, President, Iowa World Language Association.

Sara Blanco President, Iowa World Language Association c/o Carrie Mulvihill 1323 Victoria Circle Norwalk, IA 50211

We thank you for your support in this important matter.

Sincerely,

Name

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