New Blog | Making the Most of Summer: NCELA Resources to Recharge, Reflect, and Get Ready for Fall | | |
Summer looks different for everyone in the field of EL education. Some teachers are using the break to catch their breath. Others are deep in curriculum planning, professional learning, or family outreach that doesn't stop just because the school year has. Wherever you land, NCELA has free, practical resources to help you use the summer months well and get a head start to the school year. Explore our blog to learn more!
| | IES Awards $6 Million in Using Data for Policymaking Grants | | |
Through its Using Longitudinal Data to Support State Education Policymaking program, the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) has awarded six grants through the fiscal year 2025 competition.
This program funds state agencies in using state longitudinal data systems to examine specific education issues, programs, or policies and produce findings that inform state-level decision-making. The funded projects will evaluate education policies in six states—California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Virginia, and Washington—and provide rigorous evidence on how these policies relate to student educational outcomes.
The total funding for these awards is approximately $6 million. To see the complete list of new awards and access each project's abstract, visit the IES website.
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September 15–18, 2026
2026 WIDA Annual Conference
In-Person Conference
| “This conference, by teachers, for teachers, is the premier event for educators of pre-K through grade 12 multilingual learners, giving educators the opportunity to share best practices and discover innovative classroom strategies. The in-person conference will take place September 16–18, 2026, in St. Louis, Missouri, under the theme ‘Building Gateways to Colaboración.' A curated virtual track will also be available on September 15, 2026. Join the WIDA Annual Conference email list to stay up-to-date on call for proposals, registration details and more.” | | The Coalition of Community-Based Heritage Language Schools is excited to announce that registration for the 13th Annual Community-Based Heritage Language Schools Conference is now open. The hybrid conference will be held October 2–3, 2026, both onsite at American University in Washington, DC, and online. The event brings together educators, administrators, researchers, community members, and language advocates interested in supporting and advancing community-based heritage language schools. Early-bird discounts for in-person registration are available through August 31. | | |
October 16–19, 2026
54th Annual TABE Conference
In-Person Conference
| Join bilingual and multilingual education leaders from across Texas, October 16–19, 2026, at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter for TABE Con & Expo. The conference will bring together approximately 1,500 educators for networking, inspiring keynote presentations, more than 90 breakout sessions, and nearly 100 exhibitor booths featuring innovative tools and resources. Guided by the theme, “Leading the Future con voz, lenguaje e identidad,” attendees will gain practical strategies to support bilingual and biliterate student success and receive a complimentary 2027 TABE membership. | | |
November 10–15, 2026
La Cosecha 2026
In-Person Conference
| La Cosecha brings together educators, parents, researchers, and practitioners from across the country to share research, best practices, and innovative strategies for supporting dual language, bilingual, heritage language, and EL programs. Designed by teachers for teachers, the conference provides valuable learning and networking opportunities for those committed to multilingual education. | | |
Stuttgart Daily Leader
Dual Language Program Coming to Arkansas Schools
This article reports on two elementary schools in Little Rock, Arkansas, that will be the first to offer dual immersion language programs in English and Spanish. This is a pilot program that will start in three classes, while the district is looking to partner with universities to create bilingual educator pipelines and eventually expand their dual language education offerings.
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Washington Examiner
California Turns to High School Students to Fill Bilingual Teacher Shortage
This resource discusses California’s plan for expanding the pipeline of bilingual educators. As the state set a goal of enrolling half of all K–12 students in bilingual education, lawmakers included a $10 million grant program in this year’s budget to help school districts with recruiting qualified bilingual educators. The funds may potentially increase, improve, and streamline the pathways that high school graduates can take to earn their teaching credentials.
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WIDA
NEW RESOURCES: An Overview of English Learner Reclassification Policy
“This report provides a policy overview of EL reclassification approaches used by U.S. SEAs. It catalogs and compares the range of reclassification models states employ, highlights limitations of current approaches, and offers recommendations to help SEAs design more equitable and effective reclassification policies for K–12 EL students.”
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Language Magazine
TIPS FOR EDUCATORS: Perspective: Why Dual Language Programs May Be One of Our Best School Attendance Levers
This resource outlines the challenge of chronic absenteeism in schools and argues that dual language education may be one of the ways to improve attendance. The author outlines the advantages of dual language programs that may improve student attendance, such as the sense of connectedness and belonging that instruction in students’ native language may provide, as well as the motivation of higher academic achievement.
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WestEd Leading Together Webinar Series
Looking for timely insights to strengthen your practice and leadership? WestEd's Leading Together Webinar Series offers 30-minute, research-based learning sessions throughout the year, providing practical, just-in-time strategies for education leaders, practitioners, and policymakers. Join colleagues from across the field for engaging webinars featuring WestEd experts, held from 12:00–12:30 p.m. PT/3:00–3:30 p.m. ET. Visit the series page to access past webinar recordings, explore upcoming topics, and register for future sessions.
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Teaching for Tomorrow: Staying Relevant in the Age of AI
This Pearson webinar explores how language educators can adapt their instruction to prepare students for success in the age of AI. Participants will learn strategies for strengthening English language instruction by integrating essential soft skills and effective learning strategies that support student success.
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Send your alerts, upcoming events, resources, and job postings to AskNCELA
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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 Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), or the U.S. Department of Education. | | | | |
