To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide for additional activities, resources, and data collection with respect to English learners, and for other purposes.
This bill would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to strengthen and expand supports for English learners (ELs) and immigrant children and youth. Key changes include new data collection and reporting requirements (such as the racial, ethnic, gender, and linguistic diversity of teachers in a state), expanded purposes and planning to ensure ELs can reach high academic standards (without unnecessary separation from other students and without denying access to dual language programs), and additional requirements for subgrants and program activities. The bill also adds responsibilities to monitor the progress of former ELs, increase access to legal, educational, financial resources and social services (including in native languages), require culturally competent training for staff, and promote policy development and advocacy to improve outcomes for ELs regardless of immigration status. It further requires agencies to assess the impact of state and local laws on ELs and to notify families in their native language.
Key Points
- 1New state-level data on teacher diversity: The bill would add statistics on the racial, ethnic, gender, and linguistic diversity of elementary and secondary school teachers working in the state to the annual reporting requirements.
- 2Expanded purposes for English learners: The act would reaffirm that all ELs (including immigrant children and youth, regardless of immigration status) should achieve high levels in academics, with protections to avoid separating ELs from other students and to preserve access to dual language programs when feasible.
- 3Enhanced subgrantee activities: Grants to local entities would be allowed to (a) improve ELs’ access to legal, educational, financial resources and social services (in the native language where possible), (b) implement evidence-based practices to uplift ELs, and (c) provide culturally competent and responsive training for educators and other school staff. It also emphasizes supporting policy development to improve EL outcomes regardless of immigration status.
- 4Monitoring former ELs: State and local plans would include how to monitor former EL students to ensure they continue meeting challenging state standards.
- 5Accessibility and notification: The bill would require agencies to assess laws affecting ELs/immigrant youth and to notify parents in their native language about relevant immigration and education laws.
- 6Expanded accountability data: Reporting would require data to be collected and reported in aggregate and disaggregated formats, at minimum by English learner status, disability, ethnicity, race, and native language.