Avant Blog
Avant and National Association of Korean Schools Announce Strategic Alliance
Eugene, OR– April 2, 2024 — Avant Assessment, a pioneering leader in online language proficiency testing, and the National Association of Korean Schools (NAKS), a leader in promoting the Korean…
Ali Moeller: Leadership in Language
In the ever-evolving landscape of language learning and education, few have made as indelible a mark as Dr. Aleidine “Ali” Moeller, a name synonymous with leadership, research, innovation, and an…
The Inspiring Journey of Ann Tollefson: A Lifetime of Language Advocacy
Ann Tollefson’s career in language education is a story of passion, pioneering, and embracing change. Beginning as a junior high French teacher, her journey spans decades including roles as a…
Preserving Heritage Hawaiian Language Through Proficiency
Eugene, OR — Avant Assessment, a Eugene-based language proficiency assessment organization recently launched a new Avant STAMP 4Se proficiency test for the Hawaiian (‘Ōlelo Hawai’i) language. This assessment contains developmentally…
5 Reasons Why Dual Language is Core Education
The world of education is constantly evolving, and one of the most significant advancements in recent times is the recognition of dual language immersion as a core component of education….
A Gift to “Power Up” Your Students and Their Proficiency!
As we gear up for spring, many of us are reviewing class assessment data, preparing for STAMP assessments, and helping students finalize their Seal of Biliteracy applications. This flurry of…
Kathy Durán, Professional Learning Specialist
We are thrilled to announce that Kathy Durán has joined our Avant MORE Learning team as a Professional Learning Specialist. Kathy brings a wealth of experience and a proven track…
Supporting and Connecting With New World Language Teachers – The N.E.W.B.I.E. Project
Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of individuals with teaching interest had been on a steady decline since the 1990s. Language teachers are one of the most-impacted groups. A…
A Winning Combination for Equity: Assessment for Competency-Based Credits and Seals of Biliteracy
How can measuring language proficiency be the key to unlocking life-changing opportunities? In the ever-evolving landscape of education, equity has increasingly become a focal point for reform. A recent episode…
Avant STAMP and the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines
Updated: September 2023 Standards ensure the consistent measure of one or more skills and guide educators in the best teaching and learning practices and tools. The Avant STAMP language assessment…
Creating International Opportunities with Amala Education
In 2017 Amala Education (formerly known as Sky School) was launched to address the gap in quality education provision for displaced youth ages 16-25, many of whom were living in…
Preserving Our Linguistic Diversity: A Look at Victor D.O. Santos’ “What Makes Us Human”
Throughout history, innovative children’s literature has often emerged from a creative adult’s quest to convey profound lessons to the younger generation. A recent example in this tradition is Avant’s Victor…
Delaware Dual Language Immersion Adopts Avant STAMP
The move aligns with their focus on early literacy development. EUGENE, August 2023 – The Delaware Department of Education announced the adoption of Avant STAMP (STAndards-based Measurement of Proficiency) for…
Edgar Serrano, Regional Account Manager
Welcome Edgar Serrano, Regional Account Manager We are thrilled to announce Edgar Serrano has joined our team as a Regional Account Manager. Originally from Mexico City and with over 30…
Increasing Opportunity Through Ukrainian Language Proficiency
Avant Assessment releases language proficiency tests to increase access and honor language learning. Eugene, OR — Avant Assessment, the leading provider of language proficiency assessments in world languages, announced the…
Bob Davis, Director of International Pathways
Welcome Bob Davis, Director of International Pathways We are excited to welcome Bob Davis to the Avant Assessment team. Bob joins Avant as the Director of International Pathways supporting our…
Avant STAMP for ASL and Latin: Expanding Access to State and Global Seals of Biliteracy
Avant is thrilled to announce that two new language assessments, STAMP for ASL and STAMP for Latin, are now eligible for the Global Seal of Biliteracy in addition to State…
Dr. Brandee Mau, Dual Language Specialist with MEDLI
Dr. Brandee Mau, Dual Language Specialist with MEDLI Please join us in celebrating Brandee Mau in her new role as a Dual Language Specialist with the Avant MORE Learning team!…
How Expensive is Dual Language Immersion, Really?
By: Brandee Mau, Director of STAMP WS Rating & DLI Specialist Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs may feel like a recent development in American education, but according to EdWeek, groups…
Welcome Gregg Roberts, Dual Language Innovation Coordinator
We are thrilled to welcome a new member to our team that brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the Dual Language Immersion field. Please join us in extending…
Is Your Language Assessment Data Accurate and Reliable?
Is Your Language Assessment Data Accurate and Reliable? The value of language skills is increasing. Both learners and educators are discovering that individuals who can demonstrate proficiency in more than…
Welcome Amanda Minnillo, World Language Specialist
Welcome Amanda Minnillo, World Language Specialist Amanda Minnillo is our newest Avant MORE Learning team member at Avant Assessment! She has a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from the…
Avant Assessment and Linguacious® Donate 1,500 Ukrainian Children’s Books to Ukrainian Refugee Children in Poland
Books will help ensure Ukrainian refugee children’s access to good literature in their native language while fleeing the war.Eugene, OR – Avant Assessment, an Oregon, USA company that develops online…
Avant Assessment and Bridges Oregon Collaborate on ASL Proficiency Test
UPDATED: August 25, 2022 Eugene, OR— Avant Assessment, who delivered the world’s first online, computer-adaptive language proficiency test, and Bridges Oregon, a nonprofit organization serving Oregonians who are Deaf, DeafBlind,…
Help Avant Assessment Celebrate Achieving Women in Language for International Women’s Day
#AvantAchiever Each year, on March 8th, International Women’s Day (#IWD2022) is one of the most important days of the year to: celebrate women’s achievements raise awareness about women’s equality lobby…
Avant STAMP Language Proficiency Tests Approved for College Credit– Increasing Access and Equity
Eugene, OR— Avant Assessment, who delivered the world’s first online, computer-adaptive language proficiency test has just received the “stamp of approval” for the Avant STAMP 4S to qualify for college…
Four Steps To Achieving Higher Proficiency-Level Language Learners
With this four-step approach, you can turn your school’s, district’s, or institution’s world language program into a cycle of proficiency with measurable, year-over-year outcomes and proven program efficacy. Start…
How One College’s Testing Provides Proof Of Program Efficacy
In the early 2000’s, Cheryl Johnson, Instructional Technologist at Denison University in Ohio, first learned about the Avant STAMP™ assessment. At the time, she didn’t recommend it to her department….
How Language Proficiency Training Transformed My Teaching
How Language Proficiency Training Transformed My Teaching By: Caroline E. Schlegel, M.Ed. I was going through my desk drawer the other day and came across a lesson I had…
First of its Kind: Credentials for Language “Bootcamp”
Avant Assessment and Fluent Forever team up to offer the Global Seal of Biliteracy to learners that complete a new Spanish language course. Eugene, OR and Chicago, IL— Avant Assessment, the…
How One County Is Turning Seal Of Biliteracy Access And Equity Into Reality
The San Bernardino Superintendent of Schools, Ted Alejandre, and his office are doing something never done before in California: providing access to all high school seniors learning or speaking more…
Preserving Indigenous Hawaiian Language Through Proficiency
Avant Assessment and Hawaii Department of Education collaborate on ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i language test. Eugene, OR — Avant Assessment, a Eugene-based language proficiency assessment organization recently launched a new Avant STAMP…
How I Grew My Language Programs With NADSFL
By: Bonnie Peterson I don’t scare easily. I’ve been skydiving, extensively traveled the world alone, and taught junior high and high school French for 17 years. From a lifetime of…
The National Council Of Less Commonly Tested Languages And Avant Assessment Announce A Strategic Alliance
The National Council of Less Commonly Tested Languages and Avant Assessment Announce a Strategic Alliance Leaders in language access collaborate to improve equity access to language assessment and proficiency credentials…
How can language programs leverage Texas’ Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA)?
In 2019, Texas passed legislation to create the Teacher Incentive Allotment for Texas schools as a realistic pathway for teachers to earn higher salaries and focus funding on traditionally hard-to-staff…
The American Association Of Teachers Of German And Avant Assessment Announce Strategic Alliance
Leaders in language learning align to provide students language proficiency credentials Cherry Hill, NJ – The American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) and Avant Assessment are pleased to jointly…
Study Abroad During A Pandemic? Here Is How CIEE Did It Successfully
If you thought COVID was tough on your school or organization, imagine being in the study abroad business. Airplanes grounded. Host families can’t take strangers into their homes. Schools around…
Discover The Potential Of Your Language Programs With Avant STAMP Data
Watch Roger Burt and Bonnie Peterson Share How They Used Avant STAMP Data To Improve The World Language Program At Their School In this video you will learn how Avant’s…
The American Association Of Teachers Of Spanish and Portuguese and Avant Assessment Announce A Strategic Alliance
Leaders in language learning align to provide students language proficiency credentials Birmingham, AL – The American Association of Teachers of Spanish (AATSP) and Avant Assessment are pleased to jointly announce…
82 District of Columbia Students Earn The Global Seal Of Biliteracy In Hebrew
82 District of Columbia Students Earn The Global Seal Of Biliteracy In Hebrew Washington, D.C. – The Global Seal of Biliteracy has been awarded to 82 middle and high school…
Avant Special Offer to Asia Society Confucius Classrooms
Asia Society is pleased to announce that it has partnered with Avant Assessment to provide Avant’s STAMP™ Chinese language proficiency assessments (STAndards-based Measurement of Proficiency) and its MORE Learning™ training products for leaders in language education its Center for Global Education Network Schools.
Through this partnership all of the schools in Asia Society’s
Reimagining Bilingual School Programs
In Albuquerque
In school, Jessica Villalobos could not see herself. People who looked like her, shared her background, who spoke Spanish were nowhere to be seen in the textbooks, novels, and films…
In Albuquerque
Using STAMP to Create a Culture of Learning at the College of DuPage
Sandra Martins was a good Spanish student. But, when she finally visited Spain for the first time, she found much of what she had learned to be useless. Language Learning…
Hebrew At The Center’s Data-Centered Approach To Language Proficiency
A data-driven approach to language proficiency helps Hebrew at the Center turn Hebrew students into Hebrew speakers. How do you get the most out of your language program at your…
Eugene Language Assessment Leader Partners with National African Language Resource Center to Offer New Assessments
EUGENE, ORE. – Avant Assessment and the National African Language Resource Center (NALRC) at Indiana University Bloomington are partnering to provide language assessments in Swahili and Yoruba on Avant’s proprietary…
New Mexico Department of Education Exclusively Partners With Eugene Company To Offer Bilingual Assessments
Albuquerque, NM – After careful vetting from a New Mexico Public Education Department task force, New Mexico selected Avant Assessment as its statewide contractor for language proficiency assessments. This new…
Eugene Language Assessment Leader Selected for Global Citizen Award
EUGENE, ORE. – Avant Assessment co-founder and CEO David Bong received the 2019 Global Citizen Award, which honors innovators in language education. Bong was recognized for his leadership in founding…
Student Avant STAMP Language Proficiency Test Scores Skyrocket
Simply letting students talk more during a class led to dramatic improvements in students’ language proficiency skills at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School. Listening Is Good, Speaking Is…
More Than One Hundred Students Earn Prestigious Global Seal of Biliteracy Award
EUGENE, Ore. – 111 Global Seal of Biliteracy awards were presented to students across the nation at the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) annual convention in…