[EdNews] English Language Learner Edition

No one knows better than educators about the importance of staying up-to-date. As part of our periodical Topical EdNews Round Up series, you’ll find the latest education news on important industry topics in one place.

As a growing number of students in the U.S. identify as English-language learners, it has become more important than ever for educators to be informed and actively engaged in working with this diverse group of students to help meet their needs. In this week’s special English Language Learner edition of the EdNews Round Up, explore some of the latest news covering ELL students and best practices for driving ELL success in the 21st century classroom.

700,000 English-Language Learners Have a Disability. We Have to Do Better by Them
EdWeek
Recent figures from the National Center for Educational Statistics indicate that more than 700,000 English-language learners have a disability. How can educators do more to support their students?

Designing effective classrooms for multilingual students requires intent, flexibility
Education Dive
Administrators and educators looking to build and broaden an English language learning (ELL) program should first spend the time to assess what a facility needs before moving forward.

Building an ELL Program From Scratch
Edutopia
A 2019 Teacher of the Year offers advice for developing an English language learner (ELL) program at any school.

How lesser-known Microsoft tools can enhance English-language learning
EdScoop
A variety of tools embedded in popular Microsoft programs and apps are now helping English-language learners with reading, writing and classroom conversations. And these same tools are also enabling parent-teacher conferences to become bilingual or even multilingual.

A 'One-Size-Fits-All' Approach to English-Learner Education Won't Work. Here's Why
EdWeek
While English-language learners generally lag behind their peers in academic achievement, lumping the students into one group can limit schools' ability to identify their individual strengths and struggles.

How International Students Can Practice English
U.S. News
Prospective international students can learn conversational English through apps, podcasts and television.

Wanted: Teachers as Diverse as Their Students
EdWeek
When Adrian Galvan came to the United States, he didn't know English very well. Now he in working in the classroom to help immigrant children adapt to their new lives.

Education policy is often a topic of conversation in state and federal legislatures. In this special topical edition, we highlight a few stories regarding policy relating to ELLs at the state and national level.

Congressman Langevin introduces bill to help ESL teachers
NBC 10 News
Congressman Jim Langevin introduced a bill on Wednesday that would help ESL certified teachers. The Supporting Providers of English Language Learning Act, or SPELL Act, would give up to $17,500 in student loan forgiveness to those certified teachers.

District ditches controversial plan that teachers said would segregate bilingual students
NJ.com
The controversial plan to set up a school specifically for English Language Learning students in Trenton has been changed to a “newcomer” program at the district’s alternative school.

Why did passing rates on state exams for English learners plunge in Virginia?
The Washington Post
During the 2016-2017 school year, 64 percent of English-language learners who took state reading exams in Virginia passed, according to state data. Two years later, passing rates plunged to 35 percent.

First Day Jitters Of A Different Kind: A Guatemalan Boy Begins School In Cincinnati
WOSU
An eight-year-old Guatemalan boy attended his first day of American school in Cincinnati in August. José has been in the U.S. since early July after a month's journey and staying in a detention camp.

Bilingual Parent Liaison Helps Hispanic Parents Participate
U.S. News
As Alabama's Hispanic population grows, Brewbaker Primary represents just one of many schools with the unique challenges of educating students who come to school unable to speak English.

Educating English Learners with Disabilities
Language Magazine
California Department of Education (CDE) has released the much-anticipated “California Practitioners’ Guide for Educating English Learners with Disabilities.” The guide will help with identifying, assessing, supporting, and reclassifying English learners with disabilities.