Just last month, TIRF announced Dr. Scott E. Grapin and Ms. Eunae Kim as the co-recipients of the 2026 TIRF James E. Alatis Prize for Research on Language Planning and Policy in Educational Contexts. Their article is entitled “District Supervisors’ Sensemaking and Implementation of English Language Development Standards: WIDA 2020 Edition” (2025, AERA Open, Sage).

As part of the award, the co-recipients prepared a joint acceptance speech reflecting on their research, its development, and its broader significance for educators and researchers. Grapin and Kim’s acceptance speech is now available for TIRF supporters and members of the wider language education community to view – click here.

The TIRF Alatis Prize recognizes outstanding scholarly work that makes a meaningful contribution to research in English language education and has clear implications for policy and practice. Grapin and Kim’s article was selected for its theoretical grounding, clarity of argument, and relevance to ongoing conversations in the field around language planning and policy in educational contexts.

To read the full 2026 TIRF Alatis Prize announcement published last month, please click here.