Bilingual Educators

Read more about the need for and experiences of teachers who speak both English and another language
Pictures show what mouth shape different sounds make on the walls of Diana Oviedo-Holguin’s class at Heritage Elementary School in San Antonio, Texas, on Sept. 3, 2025.
Pictures show what mouth shape different sounds make on the walls of Diana Oviedo-Holguin’s class at Heritage Elementary School in San Antonio, Texas, on Sept. 3, 2025. Texas officials are getting closer to launching a new bilingual special education certification that will help teachers better understand the intersecting needs of English learners who are also students with disabilities.
Noah Devereaux for Education Week
States How One State is Leading the Way for English Learners With Disabilities
Advocates hope Texas can set an example with a forthcoming bilingual special education certificate.
Ileana Najarro, October 30, 2025
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3 min read
Second grade students raise their hands in Dalia Gerardo's classroom at West Elementary, in Russellville, Ala., on Dec. 9, 2022.
Second grade students raise their hands in Dalia Gerardo's classroom at West Elementary, in Russellville, Ala., on Dec. 9, 2022. Gerardo is a bilingual educator. Experts say Hispanic educators with bilingual certification can boost English learners' academic performance.
Tamika Moore for Education Week
English Learners Why Bilingual Hispanic Teachers Make a Big Difference for English Learners
A new study found benefits from hiring teachers of color with language certifications.
Ileana Najarro, October 14, 2025
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3 min read
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One of the last projects U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona oversaw was the publication of playbooks on how to establish and sustain dual-language immersion programs across the country.
Courtesy of U.S. Department of Education
English Learners How Schools Can Expand Dual-Language Immersion Programs
Bipartisan state and local demand for dual-language immersion programs continues to grow.
Ileana Najarro, February 12, 2025
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4 min read
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Recruitment & Retention Video This District Was Struggling to Find Teachers—So It Started Recruiting Abroad
By recruiting international teachers, this Texas district was able to address some of the staffing needs in their growing district.
Lauren Santucci, July 18, 2024
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A group of fourth grade students complete lessons in Spanish in the Global Immersion Academy program at Mountain View Elementary School, on Sept. 18, 2022, in Morganton, N.C. With the inaugural class of the Global Immersion Academy (GIA) at at the school entering fourth grade this year, Burke County Public Schools is seeing more signs of success for its dual language program.
Fourth-grade students complete lessons in Spanish in the Global Immersion Academy program at Mountain View Elementary School, on Sept. 18, 2022, in Morganton, N.C. New national poll data finds a majority of parents prefer bilingual education programs.
Jason Koon/The News-Herald via AP
English Learners How Parents Feel About Bilingual Schools and English-Only Programs
A majority of parents would prefer to enroll their children in bilingual education programs.
Ileana Najarro, June 21, 2024
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4 min read
Elizabeth Alonzo works as a bilingual aide with 2nd grade student Esteycy Lopez Perez at West Elementary in Russellville, Ala., on Dec. 9, 2022.
Elizabeth Alonzo works as a bilingual aide with 2nd grade student Esteycy Lopez Perez at West Elementary in Russellville, Ala., on Dec. 9, 2022. Alonzo obtained her bachelor's degree through a partnership with Reach University and the Russellville city schools district.
Tamika Moore for Education Week
Teaching Profession Bilingual Teachers Are in Short Supply. How 3 Districts Solved That Problem
Helping bilingual paraprofessionals obtain bachelor's degrees and teaching credentials leads to more bilingual teachers, districts found.
Ileana Najarro & Madeline Will, February 23, 2024
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9 min read
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona speaks with students during a visit to Towson University to discuss antisemitism on college campuses on Nov. 2, 2023, in Towson, Md.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona speaks with students during a visit to Towson University on Nov. 2, 2023, in Towson, Md.
Julia Nikhinson/AP
English Learners Here's Why Miguel Cardona Is Pushing Multilingual Education
The education secretary outlines how the Education Department is investing in language learning. Will it work?
Ileana Najarro, November 17, 2023
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4 min read
Photo of Hispanic teacher helping Hispanic elementary school boy using a tablet computer
iStock/Getty
English Learners The Challenge of Growing Dual Language Programs, in Charts
As the English learner population grows nationwide, researchers and education leaders are grappling with how best to serve these students.
Ileana Najarro, September 29, 2023
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1 min read
Hispanic schoolteacher reading aloud to her young students
E+ / Getty
English Learners Building Pathways for Bilingual Teachers: Ideas From 3 States
State and local leaders say flexibility, partnerships, and thinking outside the box are key to developing a bilingual teacher workforce.
Ileana Najarro, September 27, 2023
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7 min read
Spanish teacher Titi Martin-Borregon teaches fourth grade Spanish/English dual language class students at the New Mexico International School in Albuquerque, N.M., on May 23, 2022.
Spanish teacher Titi Martin-Borregon teaches 4th grade Spanish/English dual language class students at the New Mexico International School in Albuquerque, N.M., on May 23, 2022.
Cedar Attanasio/AP
English Learners Recruiting More Bilingual Teachers: The Challenges and Solutions
A new report highlights why more bilingual teachers are needed and how to build such a pipeline.
Ileana Najarro, September 19, 2023
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5 min read
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Chris Ferenzi for Education Week
Recruitment & Retention How to Recruit and Retain Bilingual Teachers and Men of Color
Mentoring and building personal relationships can be powerful tools for recruiting and retaining educators of color and bilingual teachers.
Alyson Klein, May 26, 2023
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2 min read
Teacher Preparation The Invisible Burden Some Bilingual Teachers Face
The extra work that many dual-language bilingual educators take on "too often goes unrecognized and is never remunerated," a new small-scale study concludes.
Corey Mitchell, February 7, 2020
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3 min read
Ahmed Hassan, left, a bilingual communication support specialist at Talahi Elementary School in St. Cloud, Minn., mediates a conflict between Adnan Ahmed, 10, center, and Zeyle Mohamed, 10. Hassan provides linguistic and cultural support to school staff members and Somali families.
Ahmed Hassan, left, a bilingual communication support specialist at Talahi Elementary School in St. Cloud, Minn., mediates a conflict between Adnan Ahmed, 10, center, and Zeyle Mohamed, 10. Hassan provides linguistic and cultural support to school staff members and Somali families.
Swikar Patel/Education Week
Teaching Profession Bilingual Teachers Are in Short Supply. How Can Schools Cultivate Their Own?
A Washington-based think tank has released a guide to help school districts and states identify, develop, and hire bilingual educators in their own communities.
Corey Mitchell, March 19, 2019
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2 min read
Federal ELL Teachers Are in Short Supply. Some Lawmakers Want to Fix That
Democrats in Congress are pushing legislation to help increase the skills and knowledge of teachers who work with English-learners, including how to identify and teach ELLs with disabilities and how to promote family and community engagement.
Corey Mitchell, September 21, 2018
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2 min read
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