ELL News Headlines

All 50 states and the District of Columbia have now passed legislation to formalize the seal of biliteracy, a designation on high school diplomas that affirms students’ bilingualism in English and one or more additional world languages.

On Thursday, students in the beginning stages of learning English got lessons in literacy, math and navigating life in their new country. Welcome to summer school at the Dual Language and Newcomer programs at Albany International Academy. They serve almost 200 students in grades kindergarten-12 who hail from all over the world and now call Albany their home.

A little preparation beforehand can help ensure that the experience will be rewarding for students and the speaker.

Federal law requires states and school districts to identify if children need English-learner services and special education services to equally access instruction. But despite the legal requirements and the evolving research and supports to help educators do better evaluations, accurately identifying English learners who also need special education services remains a persistent problem.

Rural areas — where barriers associated with time and distance are greater — have a high need for adult education. Steve Curiel, the principal of Huntington Beach Adult School, said not enough conversations about adult education are held at the policy level because most people in elected positions are unlikely to understand the critical role it plays, having experienced more traditional educational journeys.

I’ve previously published a series on teachers’ favorite lessons for ELL newcomers. Now, it’s time to do the same for intermediate ELLs.

An influx of immigrant students last year left the Jeffco school district scrambling to meet their needs. So this fall, officials are piloting new programs and support to help newcomer students. The school district is piloting a series of changes, including new staff, resources, and curriculum materials, as well as a new welcome center bus, after hundreds of immigrant students arrived throughout the past school year. The district is planning for the surge to continue into next school year.

By centering safety and connection, administrators can help promote the well-being of their staff and students.

When I tell people I work at a Career Technical Education (CTE) school, also known as a vocational school, they often assume I’m working with students who have struggled academically or behaviorally, but that’s not the case at our school. In fact, it’s a pretty dated misconception of CTE programs. Over the past decade, CTE schools have transformed into education spaces that commit to giving students a comprehensive experience that prepares them for the workforce, helping them cultivate strong skills in their chosen career path.

Many students don’t come to school because they lack clean clothes, said principal Jose Hernandez.