The Lab School goals are:

• To conduct high-quality research on second language acquisition and classroom discourse and arry out systematic innovation through research-driven enhancements to existing practice.
  
  
• To collaborate with researchers at other institutions, nationally and internationally, to conduct investigations of the role of language in classroom learning, particularly, language learning.
  
  
• To strengthen professional development systems for adult ESOL teachers by connecting the Lab School closely to local preservice and inservice training and by disseminating research and professional development material.

The Lab School developed (2001-2005) as a partnership between PSU and Portland Community College (PCC). PCC is the largest provider of ESOL services in the Portland metropolitan area offering adult ESOL services in many locations. One of these was the dedicated location on the PSU campus.

The Lab School most recently recorded classes from Portland State's Russian Flagship Program. We are hoping to undertake other classroom discourse research projects for language, math, or science classes.