In November 2023, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona released a letter emphasizing the "Raise the Bar: Lead the World" initiative by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) and other resources provided by the Department. Explore this blog to access useful links and the Secretary’s letter.
In his letter to educators, school leaders, and families, Secretary Cardona shares a number of resources from the U.S. Department of Education on how to support students who are English Learners (ELs). Among other things, he explains that schools have ongoing legal obligations to ensure that EL students can meaningfully participate in education programs and services; provide meaningful communications for parents, caregivers, and guardians with limited English proficiency; and ensure that school enrollment practices do not discourage or exclude students based on their immigration status.
Within the letter, you can find links to OELA’s English Learner Toolkit, Family Toolkit, and Newcomer Toolkit, along with a directory of resources related to the education of students who are ELs.
Read the Secretary’s full letter, available in English and Spanish.