ELL News Headlines
Throughout the week, Colorín Colorado gathers news headlines related to English language learners from around the country. The ELL Headlines are posted Monday through Friday and are available for free!
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How a SCOTUS decision on birthright citizenship could impact education access
Any child born on U.S. soil has a right to citizenship. It was established by the 14th Amendment in 1868, and affirmed by the U.S. Supreme court 128 years ago. On Wednesday, the high court is set to hear oral arguments in a case that could narrow or even end birthright citizenship in Trump v. Barbara.
César Chavez Day Is No More. But How Will Schools Address His Legacy?
While shockwaves reverberated from sexual abuse allegations against César Chavez this month, Maria Rodriguez-Salazar, a San Francisco mariachi teacher, immediately thought of her students. They were putting the finishing touches on the public school district’s annual mariachi showcase planned for that Friday, and a song that 100 of the high schoolers had spent months preparing, “Corrido de las Heladas,” referenced the late leader of California’s farmworker movement. She and the program’s director quickly swapped his name for “campesinos,” which means “farmers,” and the show went on. But in the aftermath of The New York Times’ investigation revealing allegations about Chavez, teachers across the state are grappling with how to address his widely studied and once-revered legacy.
Birthright Citizenship Case Raises Stakes for Schools and Undocumented Students
The U.S. Supreme Court this week will consider the legality of one of the biggest items on President Donald Trump’s immigration-enforcement agenda — an executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship for children born on U.S. soil of immigrant parents who are undocumented or have lawful temporary status.
Supporting Teachers in Implementing the Science of Learning
By rooting their professional development in learning science, this district helped teachers figure out which strategies to use more frequently, and which to retire.
10 Poetry Works for Young Readers Perfect for National Poetry Month
This collection of poetry features works by a diverse group of poets for readers of different ages. Poets include Langston Hughes, Chitra Soundar, and Mia Wenjen, a contributor to Colorín Colorado.
A State Gets Closer to Challenging Undocumented Students’ Free Access to School
Schools do not collect information on students’ immigration status due to a 1982 Supreme Court ruling in Plyler v. Doe, which granted undocumented students the constitutional right to a free, public education. Collecting such data could discourage undocumented families from enrolling in school, potentially undermining that right, advocates say. But Tennessee lawmakers, in an effort to challenge the Plyler decision, are debating legislation that would require schools to collect all students’ immigration information as soon as the 2026-27 school year.
Many California students still labeled English learners, despite testing as fluent
Thousands of California students remain classified as English learners even after they reach proficiency in English, according to new research. Several studies suggest the state’s reclassification rules may be holding students in language support programs longer than necessary to their detriment.
Commentary: Why language support must replace labels
As a child, Nora told me, she was immediately mislabeled as a special education student simply because she hadn’t yet learned English—a mistake her parents, trusting the system, didn’t feel comfortable questioning.
Alexandra Cornejo: Meeting the Moment | 2026 School Librarian of the Year
Alexandra Cornejo is an educator, role model, and motivator. She sees herself in her students, while being acutely aware of their specific challenges. And as she supports their academic and social-emotional lives, the librarian at Harlingen (TX) School of Health Professions remembers a mantra of her youth.
How K-12 Parents Feel About Immigration Enforcement Near Schools
A majority of parents are somewhat or very concerned that heightened immigration operations, like those carried out in Minnesota in recent months, could disrupt their children’s education.


