ELL News Headlines

With billions of federal dollars frozen by the Trump administration, 85% of school district leaders say they now have to find alternative sources to pay for contracts they have already entered into. Half those leaders say they will have to cut staff to make ends meet if the money doesn’t arrive, according to a new survey.

The Trump administration told states Friday that it will send every state on Monday their formula funding allocations for before- and after-school programs nationwide — but the funding will come with a new requirement for states to certify compliance with federal civil rights laws.

English learners and their families in the Roanoke City public school district in Virginia rely on specially trained tutors who help students improve their English-language proficiency during and after the school day. But these tutors are funded through federal Title III formula grants, a $890 million program that is part of the billions in congressionally appropriated dollars the Trump administration is currently withholding from schools.

Monterey County offers the children of agricultural workers a fun summer filled with innovative science projects, dance and ceramics, in addition to beefing up their math and English skills. It’s one of dozens of these programs statewide and even more across the nation. But this could be the last summer the program is offered. President Donald Trump froze funds for the program and wants to eliminate it entirely.

Daniela Castillo is student at UC Berkeley majoring in media studies with a concentration in global and cultural studies, as well as a double minor in journalism and ethnic studies, and a member of EdSource’s California Student Journalism Corps. In this personal reflection, she writes, "Three years ago, I joined Mariachi Luz de Oro. For myself and student mariachis everywhere, our performance is a rejection of this kind of mistreatment and simultaneously a celebration of our heritage."

Nory Sontay Ramos thought her immigration check-in was routine. Five days later, she and her mother were swiftly deported to Guatemala — a country she barely remembers.

Several state Head Start associations and parent groups are fighting a Trump administration effort to bar undocumented children from the federally funded Head Start program.

Gen X and millennial parents grew up on the gentle rhythms of “Sesame Street” and “Between the Lions.” But sweeping cuts to public broadcasting could leave their children facing a different entertainment landscape. Legislation that slashes billions from the federal budget, including funding for NPR and PBS, will put beloved PBS Kids shows in jeopardy, the network says.

A group of 24 states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration Monday over its withholding of nearly $7 billion in education funding for after-school care, English-language learning, teacher training and other programs, asking a federal judge to force the federal government to release the money.

As veteran educator Larry Ferlazzo retired from the classroom this June, it was, he thought, the perfect time to leave. His colleagues and administrators hoped he’d stay, and he felt he was going out on top. In his final weeks at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, Calif., Ferlazzo sat down with Education Week to share some parting words and final observations from his time as a teacher.