Community Advocates

The term “English learners (ELs)” refers to the student population defined in section 8101(20) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. As of the fall of 2021 ELs represent approximately 11% of the total student enrollment in U.S. K–12 public schools.

While the public’s attention remains directed to the border—the epicenter of the debate about immigration policy—the children of undocumented immigrants who have already crossed the border exist in permanent limbo, fearful every day that their parents will be snatched away from them, and wo

In the Native American Languages Act of 1990, Congress recognized the importance of preserving Native American languages by protecting and promoting the rights of Native Americans to develop their proficiency and use of Native American languages.1 In addition, it is the policy of the United State

The U.S. Department of Education's "Raise the Bar" initiative aims to provide every student with a pathway to multilingualism, while ensuring equitable access to a high-quality education for English learners.

The U.S. Department of Education's "Raise the Bar" initiative aims to provide every student with a pathway to multilingualism, while ensuring equitable access to a high-quality education for English learners.

This resource features practices that districts and schools may consider in their efforts to increase access to advanced or specialized programs for students who are ELs. You can read more about students’ access to educational opportunities from early childhood to grade 12 in the U.S.

This fact sheet features data on English learners' high school graduation rates for school year 2019-20. It is important to note that the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted some states' abilities to collect and report graduation data.