Adelita Grijalva Introduces Bills Expanding English Learning Opportunities

Representative Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) is introducing three bills to expand opportunities for English-learning students nationwide.

What the Bills Do

The first piece of legislation – the Reaching English Learners Act – strengthens partnerships with colleges and universities and high-need local educational agencies through competitive grants that allow pre-service teachers to obtain English as a Second Language (ESL) teaching licenses.

The second piece of legislation – the Families Learning and Understanding English Together (FLUENT) Act – expands English literacy services for students and families, and finally, the Supporting Young Language Learners' Access to Bilingual Education (SYLLABLE) Act strengthens bilingual education in targeted dual-language learning investments and provides strategies for students from low-income communities, communities of color, and English learner backgrounds, particularly students in preschool through fifth grade.

What Grijalva is Saying

"Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed, and that starts with ensuring that our schools have the proper resources to teach students of all backgrounds," said Rep. Grijalva in a press release. "English learners bring so much to our classrooms, communities, and workforce. We should be investing in their success, and supporting their families and the educators who help them thrive. This package is about giving every student a fair shot and building stronger schools and communities for all of us."

The bills already have the support of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), whose President, Randi Weingarten, said, "The promise of public education rests on our commitment to serve each and every student."

"English language learners are part of the fabric of our schools and communities; while the Trump administration seems intent on attacking them, Rep. Adelita Grijalva's bills boost literacy, support dual-language immersion programs and fund teacher preparation programs for the highest-need districts," Weingarten continued, adding, "Students who speak languages other than English deserve to have their cultures and experiences recognized, while also getting the support they need to learn English so they can thrive in the classroom and far beyond."