Learning the Language
Education Week reporters covered English-language learners, bilingual education, and civil rights issues and explored the educational, policy, and social issues surrounding ELLs in U.S. schools. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: English language learners and bilingual education.
Law & Courts
California Judge Says State Failed Thousands of English-Learners
A Los Angeles judge agreed with plaintiffs that state education officials failed to monitor districts that were not providing English-language instruction to thousands of ELLs.
English Learners
Students Earning 'Biliteracy Seals' on Uptick in California
Nearly 25,000 graduating seniors earned the special designation for their multiple language skills in 2014.
Equity & Diversity
Obama's Deferred Action Program: A Statistical Look at Youths' Participation
More than half of the 1.2 million undocumented immigrant youth who had met the requirements to seek relief from deportation have applied for the reprieve, according to a new Migration Policy Institute analysis.
Equity & Diversity
In Fight Over Border Funding, House GOP Targets Reprieve for DREAMers
Conservative Republicans in the House want to scale back the Obama administration's deferred action program in exchange for their votes on a spending measure to address the border crisis.
Law & Courts
California Stands Trial in Lawsuit Alleging State Neglects English-Learners
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a brief supporting a lawsuit brought on behalf of six English-language-learner students who said they did not receive language instruction.
Federal
House, Senate Far Apart on Emergency Aid for Border Crisis
Congress appears unlikely to reach an agreement on emergency funds to address the surge of unaccompanied minors flowing across the Southwest border from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Federal
For Schools With Child Immigrants, What Resources Are Available?
School districts that absorb large numbers of recently-arrived immigrants can use a key stream of federal funding for support.
Federal
Obama Administration Announces $2.5 Million for Tribes to Take Over Schools
The Obama administration takes first steps toward moving the long-troubled Bureau of Indian Education agency away from directly operating schools for Native American children and turning more control over to tribes.
Federal
Border Crisis Draws Conflicting Emergency-Spending Bills in Congress
The House and Senate have drafted vastly different emergency spending measures aimed at addressing the surge of unaccompanied minors streaming across the U.S.-Mexico border.
Equity & Diversity
Fastest Growing Group of Migrants Arriving at Border: Children Under 12
The number of unaccompanied minors from Central America under the age of 12 has increased by 117 percent from last year, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center.
English Learners
Accurate Identification of ELLs With Disabilities Challenges Schools
Historically, English-language learners have tended to be over-represented in special education, but in more recent years, under-representation also has been a problem.
Equity & Diversity
New York Communities Prepare for Influx of Unaccompanied Minors
City officials in Syracuse and New York City are mobilizing resources and support for the influx of unaccompanied child migrants from Central America.
Equity & Diversity
Two High Schools for English-Learners to Open in Prince George's County, Md.
The 125,000-student district outside of Washington is partnering with CASA de Maryland and the Internationals Network for Public Schools to open two high schools to serve ELLs and recently arrived immigrants.
Equity & Diversity
Ala. Puts Stop to Enrollment Policies That Discriminate Against Immigrants
State Superintendent of Education Thomas Bice is requiring all school districts to use a common enrollment form and follow the same set of practices that will not discourage students to enroll because of their immigration status or that of their parents.