Bilingual Education
Learn more about the education model where students are taught part of the day in their first language and the rest of the day in a language that is new to them, typically English
English Learners
U.S. Schools See Surge in Number of Arabic- and Chinese-Speaking English-Learners
While Spanish remains the most commonly spoken English-learner language by far, the numbers for speakers of Arabic and Chinese have grown dramatically over the past decade, federal data show.
English Learners
On Bilingualism, Bias, and Immigration: Our Top English-Learner Stories of 2019
Education Week's top English-language learner stories on 2019 explored who's teaching the nation's English-learners and the struggles those educators encounter on the job, how the Trump administration's immigration policies affected students and their families and examined why more schools in the United States are embracing bilingualism.
Families & the Community
Connecting With English-Learner Families: 5 Ideas to Help Schools
English-language-learner families are less likely to attend parent-teacher conferences and other school-related events, which means they miss out on important opportunities to communicate about their children's academic progress.
Federal
José Viana, Head of Federal ELL Office to Resign
"I will forever be grateful for the opportunity and privilege I have been given to serve my country and its learners," Viana wrote in an email to supporters this week.
English Learners
Briefly Stated
Briefly Stated: Stories You May Have Missed
Education Week catches you up on the week gone by with a thoughtful look at recent news in K-12 education.
English Learners
'English-Only' Laws in Education on Verge of Extinction
Arizona is expected to repeal its longstanding ban on bilingual education, following similar moves in California and Massachusetts in recent years.
English Learners
100,000 Students Earned the Seal of Biliteracy, But They're in a Handful of States
Dozens of states offer the seal of biliteracy, but more than 80 percent of students who earn the honor are concentrated in just five states, a new report reveals.
Teaching Profession
Wanted: Teachers as Diverse as Their Students
Districts try "grow your own" programs to build an educator workforce that mirrors their changing student body.
English Learners
A 'One-Size-Fits-All' Approach to English-Learner Education Won't Work. Here's Why
The current system results in less access to academic classes for long-term English-learners, a new study argues, while more recent arrivals sometimes fare better.
Federal
Is Congress Lagging in Nationwide Push for Language Learning?
The popularity of the seal of biliteracy has surged across the country but federal legislation that would fund U.S. Department of Education grants to help states and school districts establish and strengthen programs has repeatedly sputtered in Congress.
English Learners
Do English-Language Learners Get Stigmatized by Teachers? A Study Says Yes
New research suggests that English-language-learner classification has a "direct and negative effect on teachers' perceptions of students' academic skills."
English Learners
Opinion
Stop Trying to Standardize Your Students' Language
Instead of fixating on the word gap and other false language-skills dilemmas, focus on what's really hurting students, writes Olivia Obeso.
Federal
Report Roundup
Foreign Languages
U.S. employers increasing rely on multilingual employees to advance their goals, but many have lost business because they don't have staff who can communicate in languages other than English, finds a new report from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
English Learners
Itinerant English-Learners Pose Challenges for School Systems
A new study that sought to examine learning conditions across the country for long-term English-learners found that 1 in 5 of the students are highly mobile, and may not have access to consistent language support as a result.
