Table of Contents
Federal Laws/Legislation
English learners are protected under a variety of federal laws that mandate the services that states and districts are legally obligated to provide. Most recently, the Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA) required that EL students be included in state accountability systems that dictate school improvement efforts. At the state level, local jurisdictions have set policies related to EL instruction (e.g. bilingual mandates, dual language immersion initiatives), data reporting, teacher qualifications, family engagement and more. The following resources offer deep dives into state policy, analysis of federal policy and overviews of how districts are responding to these policies. Read more
English Learners with Disabilities: Shining a Light on Dual-Identified Students
Janie Tankard Carnock, Elena Silva, July 30th, 2019
This report provides an overview of the separate but intersecting federal policies that govern the identification of and services provided to English learners and students with disabilities. This overview will frame key opportunities to serve ELs with disabilities more equitably with the aim of helping policymakers, advocates, and practitioners take more strategic action on behalf of these students.