English Learners

March 19, 2019

New training for California preschool teachers to help bilingual children prepare for kindergarten

The trainings teach preschool teachers how to help children learn English and keep their home languages, so they can be more successful in kindergarten and beyond.

Zaidee Stavely

January 30, 2019

California schools help unaccompanied immigrant students combat trauma, language barriers

Unaccompanied immigrant students face a daunting set of obstacles to finish high school. Many students have survived severe trauma in their home countries or missed years of school.

Zaidee Stavely

October 30, 2018

Building relationships with preschool parents, one conversation at a time

To help preschoolers who are learning to speak in more than one language, one California school district is focusing on parent engagement through in-person interviews that are boosting parent participation in class activities.

Ashley Hopkinson

October 2, 2018

Amidst teacher shortage new funds help districts train more bilingual teachers

New state funds, available through The Bilingual Teacher Professional Development grants, are helping more school districts and county offices of education to increase the number of bilingual teachers in the state.

Ashley Hopkinson

May 20, 2018

Innovative high school for new immigrant students a model in California

One of two international high schools in California, the small Oakland campus offers special programs for immigrant students.

Theresa Harrington

May 2, 2018

Educators face new challenges in 'superdiverse' classrooms where multiple languages are spoken

Researchers focused on classrooms where more than five languages are spoken.

Ashley Hopkinson

April 16, 2018

Focusing on the language skills of English Learners key to boosting math scores

An Education Trust–West report highlights successful strategies some California districts implemented to improve English learners' performance in math.

Ashley Hopkinson

March 12, 2018

California should stay the course with its education plan

The State Board of Education should approve the revised Every Student Succeeds Act state plan without delay.

Linda Darling-Hammond

January 9, 2018

UCLA initiative promotes school collaboration to improve math performance

The new center will create educator networks statewide to improve student performance.

George White

November 28, 2017

New California law expands low-income parents’ access to subsidized child care

A new state law clarifies that parents enrolled in English as a second language or GED classes can state that as a qualifying reason for state subsidized child care. Previously, some families were deemed ineligible.

Ashley Hopkinson

October 18, 2017

Children whose parents speak a language other than English less likely to enroll in preschool

A national report examines if states are meeting the needs of dual language learners, who make up nearly one-third of children ages 8 and younger in the U.S. The 30-state analysis highlights policies that affect access and educational opportunities.

Ashley Hopkinson

September 10, 2017

Bilingual education advocates celebrate first new policy for English language learners in 20 years

The State Board of Education adopted the first new language policy in 20 years — the English Learner Roadmap, an online resource for school districts that will help guide curriculum, instruction and standards for the 1.4 million English learners in the state’s public schools.

Ashley Hopkinson

July 18, 2017

State Board of Education approves English Learner Roadmap

New state policy is expected to help schools meet California's Vision of Success for English learners.

Theresa Harrington

July 12, 2017

California must take steps to grow the bilingual teacher workforce

Teacher shortage limits districts' ability to expand bilingual offerings.

Vickie Ramos Harris and Shelly Spiegel-Coleman

July 11, 2017

New funds available to train bilingual teachers in California

An advocacy group for English learners says the $5 million in new state money to train more bilingual teachers is a "first step," and warns that Proposition 58 has worsened a severe shortage of bilingual teachers.

Ashley Hopkinson