Federal advocates petition for reinstatement of canceled federal instructions concerning English-language learners
The U.S. Department of Education has not announced new corrected guidelines to replace the original guidance on educating English Learners since the withdrawal of the 2015 Dear Colleague Letter in August. This has left advocates and educators concerned about the future of English learner education, as they argue for federal guidance to ensure compliance with all applicable federal laws.
The 2015 Dear Colleague Letter, which is currently available online for historical purposes only, provided a framework for states and schools to ensure English learners have access to graduation, higher education, and the workforce. The letter also outlined English learners' education rights and denounced the Trump administration's decision to rescind it.
Education Department press officials stated that the 2015 Dear Colleague Letter was rescinded because it was not aligned with administration priorities. They also considered the letter overly prescriptive and micro-managing of how states implement federal English language programs. However, advocates argue that clear federal guidance is necessary to ensure states and districts are educating English learners effectively while following all applicable federal laws.
Hopkins, an advocacy group for English learners, has been advocating for updating guidance on multilingualism and bilingual education to reflect current thinking in the field. They created a resource for state education agencies to cover the overarching obligations towards multilingual learners and their families. The resource highlights the legal basis, statutory authority, and judicial precedent for each requirement towards multilingual learners.
The updated guidance should address differentiating supports for students across different proficiency levels, staffing requirements, and aligning practices with current research. Hopkins suggests that state education leaders should consider their responsibilities to English learners and their families independently of the 2015 Dear Colleague Letter.
The National English Learner Roundtable submitted a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Attorney General Pam Bondi on Sept. 12, urging the reinstatement of the 2015 Dear Colleague Letter due to concerns about noncompliance without clear federal guidance. They denounce the Trump administration's decision to rescind the letter as sending a dangerous and misleading signal to educational agencies.
The resource created by Hopkins is available as a PDF and can be opened in a new tab. It serves as a valuable tool for state education agencies seeking to understand their obligations towards multilingual learners and their families in the absence of clear federal guidance.
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