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May 22, 2024

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Congratulations 2024 Graduates!

We want to congratulate the Class of 2024. Your hard work, dedication, and accomplishments are truly commendable. As you embark on the next chapter of your journey, we celebrate your achievements and wish you every success in your future endeavors!

Data From “Raise the Bar: Lead the World” on EL High School Graduation Rates

Explore this visualization created by data scientists at the U.S. Department of Education (ED) on high school graduation rates for English learners (ELs) during school year 2020–2021. Use the filter tools to sort by State, EL graduation rate, and overall graduation rate. 


Explore Data

Happy Haitian Heritage Month!


Spotlight: The Toussaint L’Ouverture Dual Language Academy is the first two-way immersion Haitian Creole dual-language preschool in the country. This program empowers Haitian American students, fostering belonging and pride by applying English and Haitian Creole to all subjects.


Read More

NCES Fact Sheet: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2024


May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Check out the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) fact sheet covering the learning experiences of AAPI students throughout their education careers and the characteristics of AAPI teachers and faculty.


Learn More

NCELA Resource Library
Visit our database of 20,000+ resources.

Funding Opportunities


Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Innovation and Early Learning Programs: Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program Early-Phase Grants Assistance Listing Number 84.411C

 

Refugee Career Pathways Program, Competition ID: HHS-2024-ACF-ORR-ZM-0020

 

Refugee Family Child Care Microenterprise Development Program, Competition ID: HHS-2024-ACF-ORR-RG-0023

Raise the Bar: How Community-Based Schools Can Contribute to the Multilingual Landscape Webinar

Join the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) on Thursday, May 30, at 2 p.m. ET for the "Raise the Bar: How Community-Based Schools Can Contribute to the Multilingual Landscape" webinar. The webinar will feature Montserrat Garibay, Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director for OELA at ED, who will discuss the importance of heritage language education in the light of OELA’s “Raise the Bar” call to action.


Additionally, representatives from three heritage language schools will provide a brief overview of what their schools are engaged in and accomplishing:


  • Heike Feltes, Teacher and Co-Director, Bay Area Kinderstube (BAKS+)
  • Shahid Iqbal, Co-Founder and Program Director, Indus Arts Council
  • Daniela Silva, Executive Director, ABRACE


There will be a time for questions and a discussion of OELA’s call to action in the language field. This will be a unique opportunity to learn about OELA's work as it relates to heritage language schools!

Register Today

Announcements

OELA’s Montserrat Garibay Celebrates Seal of Biliteracy Recipients

On May 7, 2024, OELA’s Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director, Montserrat Garibay, participated as the keynote speaker at the Seal of Biliteracy Pathways celebration at Adamas County School District in Colorado. Over 200 elementary and middle school students successfully presented their Seal of Biliteracy projects. Thank you to Dr. Karla Loria, Superintendent of Adams County School District, and to Lynda Idle, Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education and Dual Language Director, for all the work that it is done every single day to amplify multilingualism. 


And on May 16, 2024, Montserrat Garibay participated as the keynote speaker at the Seal of Biliteracy Awards Night at the Hartford Public Schools in Connecticut. A total of 209 students received their Seal of Biliteracy award in 16 different languages. Thank you, Superintendent Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez and Hartford Public Schools, for Raising the Bar for multilingualism for all!

Outreach Packet: OELA Multilingualism Digital Badges

ED’s OELA has developed an outreach packet to inform stakeholders about the new digital badge release. Each badge reflects your passion for continuous learning and encourages conversations about the OELA webinars you have attended. As you reach each level, complete this form to request your badge. Please note you will be awarded badges based on your attendance of OELA webinars after May 1, 2024.


Micro Badges:


  • Level 1: Multilingualism Ally - Attend three webinars.
  • Level 2: Multilingualism Advocate - Attend six webinars.
  • Level 3: Multilingualism Champion - Attend twelve webinars. 


Macro Badge:



  • Multilingualism Superpower - Available after earning all three micro badges (Ally, Advocate, Champion). 

 

Download Outreach Packet

Kit de herramientas para las familias de estudiantes de inglés

La Oficina de Adquisición del Idioma Inglés (OELA) le invita a un seminario en línea en español para presentar información acerca de los seis capítulos del kit de herramientas para las familias de estudiantes de inglés.

 

Se compartirá una descripción general, derechos de las familias y del estudiante, preguntas para hacer a las escuelas, y consejos y recursos de cada capítulo. Este seminario está programado para el 11 de junio a la 1 p.m. ET.

Register Today

English Learners and Postsecondary Education

OELA is hosting a webinar on Friday, June 14, at 3 p.m. ET that will address the current issues related to postsecondary access for ELs, including newcomer ELs. Presentations will highlight both research and practice perspectives, and panelists will share challenges, successes, and tools that can improve postsecondary access for ELs, highlighting best practices to support students.

Register Today

Institute of Education Sciences: Funding Opportunities

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) is requesting applications for the following grant programs.


Using Longitudinal Data to Support State Education Policymaking

The National Center for Education Research is hosting the Using Longitudinal Data to Support State Education Policymaking competition to assist State agencies in utilizing longitudinal data systems for informed decision-making to improve education quality for learners. Examine how ELs are doing in your State and how their access and achievement can be improved by analyzing State longitudinal data systems. Applications are due August 15, 2024.


Transformative Research in the Education Sciences Grants Program

The National Center for Education Research is hosting the Transformative Research in the Education Sciences Grants Program, supporting “innovative research that has the potential to make dramatic advances towards solving seemingly intractable problems and challenges in the education field and/or to accelerate the pace of conducting education research to facilitate major breakthroughs.” Applications are due September 12, 2024.

Upcoming Events

June 5–7

Cambio de Colores 22nd Annual Conference

Conference

Mark your calendar for the Cambio de Colores 22nd Annual Conference on June 5–7. The theme for 2024— 

Sparking Change, Integration, and Deep Connections— renews our call to action and commitment to learning alongside leaders and experts from our changing communities. This professional development opportunity is an excellent chance for bilingual educators, counselors, and school district leaders who aim to create welcoming communities for newcomers to learn from each other.

June 10–11

Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE) 3rd Annual Dual Language Virtual Symposium

Conference

Come join a fantastic lineup of educational experts, researchers, and policymakers to collaboratively explore innovative strategies and evidence-based practices, within the context of the Science of Teaching Reading, in order to enhance academic achievement, bilingualism/biliteracy, and socio-cultural competence in dual language programs.

June 17–18

National Research & Development Center to Improve Education for Secondary English Learners Conference

Conference

Attend this 2-day, in-person conference being held on June 17–18 in Portland, Oregon. Learn from education professionals from all across the country and world, hear about studies related to actionable teacher curriculum and instruction practices to support ELs, and network with others to build your understanding and share solutions.

July 9–11

2024 SIOP® Virtual Conference

Virtual Conference

Join SIOP® Authors and fellow educators from across the country who are seeking to make a positive impact on student learning for the 2024 SIOP® Virtual Conference hosted by Savvas Learning, your authorized source for SIOP® events and professional learning. The conference offers new and seasoned educators a space to experience reinvigoration and growth in facilitating teaching practices that are beneficial for multilingual learners (MLs) and ELs.

Oct. 4-5

11th Annual Community-Based Heritage Language Schools Conference

Conference

The Coalition of Community-Based Heritage Language Schools Conference brings together everyone who is interested in learning about and collaborating with community-based heritage language schools. This hybrid event will take place both on-site at American University in Washington, DC, and online on October 4–5, 2024. Follow these links to visit the conference website, learn about the plenary speakers, and register.

Oct. 15–18

WIDA Annual Conference

Conference

The WIDA Annual Conference is the premier event for educators of Pre-K through Grade 12 MLs, giving educators from around the globe the opportunity to share best practices and discover innovative classroom strategies. The in-person conference will take place October 16–18, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A curated virtual option will be available on October 15 that includes a sampling of sessions from the in-person WIDA Annual Conference and an exclusive virtual keynote speaker.

Oct. 17-20

TABE Hybrid Conference

Conference

This year’s TABE conference will be held at the Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Round Rock, Texas, from October 17–20. Conference registration opens on June 1.

Nov. 12-16

La Cosecha Dual Language Conference

Conference

Are you, or someone you know, looking for the perfect conference focused on providing instructional and programmatic support to best serve your ELs and emerging bilingual students? La Cosecha 2024 will feature over 280 professional presentations and workshops for supporting two-way and one-way immersion, developmental bilingual, and heritage/tribal language immersion programs and will bring together educators, parents, researchers, and practitioners from across the United States.


In the News

EdSource

When You Can’t Read a Medicine Bottle: California Immigrants Struggle with Low English Literacy

This article reports on the data found on California immigrant residents with low English language proficiency and literacy, as well as challenges that adult immigrants face when trying to learn English.

New America

Leveraging Teacher Apprenticeship to Grow the ESL and Bilingual Teacher Workforce

This article discusses strategies for increasing the EL and bilingual education workforce. It presents teacher apprenticeships, certification programs, Grow Your Own initiatives, and community outreach as promising options.

New York University (NYU)

New Resource: How Likely are English Learners to Graduate From High School? New Study Shows it Depends on Race, Gender, Income

ELs are on average less likely to graduate high school in 4 years than their non-EL peers. This study from NYU examines whether EL 4-year graduation rates differ depending on race and gender.

WIDA

New Resource – Examining English Learner Testing, Proficiency, and Growth: Continued Trends Since the COVID-19 Pandemic

This report documents the ongoing decline in academic English proficiency among EL students since the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis draws on aggregated individual-level data from the ACCESS for ELLs Online assessment taken annually by students identified as ELs across the WIDA Consortium. The report presents the number of tested ELs as well as their average proficiency and gain scores for the 6 academic years from 2017–2018 through 2022–2023.

Education Week

Tips for Educators – ‘A Unique Challenge’: What English Learners With Disabilities Need

This article addresses the challenges that ELs with disabilities and their families face in schools. These challenges include lack of access to dual language and bilingual programs, difficulties in communicating with families whose first language is not English, and issues related to teacher preparation. 

Professional Learning

Resources for Current and Future Language Educators

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) charity and its public education affiliate, the Language Connects Foundation (LCF), share a mission to elevate the language education profession and promote the transformative power of language learning. Together they are offering these Spring 2024 opportunities:


  • LCF Teacher Scholarship Program: This award provides up to $6,000 in funding for graduating high school seniors who aspire to teach languages other than English, including those entering community colleges in Fall 2024. Deadline to apply is May 31, 2024.
  • ACTFL & LCF Awards Program: This annual program recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of language education across 12 categories, with recipients announced at the ACTFL Convention in November. Deadline to nominate is June 14, 2024.
  • LCF Student Ambassadors Program: This program convenes a dynamic, international network of student language-learner leaders at the postsecondary level who empower each other to become global advocates and trailblazers for language education. The program has no deadline (rolling enrollment).

Promoting School Success for Immigrant-Origin Students and Multilingual Students who are Classified as English Learners Briefs

Results for America and the Annenberg Institute at Brown University recently released two newly updated EdResearch for Action briefs highlighting proven practices schools can use to engage and support multilingual students who are classified as ELs and immigrant-origin students. In Supports for Multilingual Students Who Are Classified as English Learners, the authors identify six research-proven strategies that improve outcomes for multilingual students. In Promoting School Success for Immigrant-Origin Students, a review is done on collaborative programs and decision-making opportunities that successfully draw families into the school community. Take a moment to explore the briefs and all they have to offer. 

SupportEd Releases a New Book on Social Emotional Learning for Multilingual Learners

This just-published book on social emotional learning (SEL) for MLs was co-authored by SupportEd’s Diane Staehr Fenner, PhD, and Mindi Teich, MEd. Titled Social Emotional Learning for Multilingual Learners: Essential Actions for Success, “the book serves as an engaging guide which showcases SEL considerations that are unique to MLs, relevant research, easy-to-implement educator actions, and practical tools to seamlessly integrate SEL practices into content and language instruction for MLs.”

Learning Session Series: Accelerating English Learner Success with Formative Assessment

The Region 15 Comprehensive Center, in collaboration with OELA, invites you to a series of learning sessions focused on what formative assessment is and how it can be implemented to support the academic and socioemotional growth of EL students, with a particular focus on early learners in Grades K–2. Register for the upcoming sessions:


Learning Session 2 – June 26, 2024

 

Learning Session 3 – August 21, 2024

IES Resources for Supporting Student Engagement and Attendance 

“IES has created four handouts that discuss research findings and research-based tools from across IES that educators and policymakers can use to improve student attendance and engagement:”




Job Opportunities

Vice President of Policy & Advocacy

Partnership for Los Angeles Schools

Los Angeles, California 

Senior Director of Consortium and State Relations

WIDA University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, Wisconsin (Remote)

Connect With NCELA

English Learners Who Speak Arabic as a Home Language

OELA released a new fact sheet, English Learners Who Speak Arabic as a Home Language, which includes numbers and percentages of EL students who spoke Arabic as their home language during the school year 2020–2021. Take a moment to explore this new resource.

Download the Fact Sheet

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National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition (NCELA)

Disclaimer: NCELA Nexus is intended to share information that can be of use to educators, parents, learners, leaders, and other stakeholders in their efforts to ensure that all students, including English learners, are provided with the highest quality education and expanded opportunities to succeed. The information and materials presented in NCELA Nexus do not necessarily constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or partiality by NCELA, the Office of English Language Acquisition, or the U.S. Department of Education.