Picture this: two students in the same district log on for remote learning. One has a stable internet connection, a working device, and a parent who can help troubleshoot tech issues. The other, an English learner (or EL), shares a borrowed device with two siblings, has spotty broadband, and receives tech support in a language… Continue reading Digital Equity in Education: Bridging the Gap for Multilingual Learners
After completing my dissertation research in 2020, I learned two things to be true: 1. There were not enough dual language programs to meet the demand for them; and 2. There were definitely not enough qualified teachers to fill new programs. Almost six years later, our partnership with the National Center for Teacher Residencies addresses… Continue reading How the National Center for Teacher Residencies is Growing the Bilingual Educator Workforce
Lots of teachers I know are hesitant to introduce AI for language learning in their classrooms. I get it, because I had the same initial reaction. The risks are considerable: from cheating on assignments, having all voices sound the same, or losing critical thinking skills, this type of tech can impact academic integrity. But we… Continue reading Powerful AI for Language Learning: Generative Tech & Multilingual Classrooms
All around the country, district leaders are deploying digital strategies to reach families who have long been sidelined by traditional outreach. From two-way texting to QR-code storytelling, tech-powered engagement is helping schools connect with multilingual families—many of whom were previously missed by flyers, voicemails, or meetings in English. Post-pandemic shifts have only accelerated this move.… Continue reading Tech-Powered Tools and Strategies That Increase Multilingual Digital Family Engagement
In tech K-12 classrooms across the U.S., a quiet evolution is taking place. Bilingual robotics clubs, culturally responsive coding classes, and AI-powered language tools are helping multicultural students engage in STEM like never before. From San Luis, Arizona, to Denver Public Schools and national efforts like CSL en Español, culturally responsive STEM is helping build… Continue reading Culturally Responsive STEM: Integrating Heritage Languages into Robotics and Coding Projects
Something we’ve learned from all our years working with multilingual students: When bilingualism is celebrated, protected, and supported, it goes beyond being a cultural strength and becomes a financial opportunity. This is why, when donors invest in dual-language programs, the returns ripple across classrooms, communities, and the economy. The American Council on the Teaching of… Continue reading The ROI of Bilingualism: Wage Premiums & Workforce Gains Every Donor Should Know
Too often, multilingual learners are met with well-meaning sympathy instead of transformative support. But a growing body of evidence shows that the “warm-demander” teaching approach can change that. When a struggling student is paired with a teacher who genuinely believes in them, but also pushes them to go beyond their limits, they can reach academic… Continue reading Warm-Demander Classrooms: New Teaching Strategies and Approaches for Multilingual Learners
In spring 2025, five Texas districts reported that anxiety referrals for English-learner (EL) students doubled in a single semester. The spike mirrors national trends: CDC’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found persistent increases in depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts among adolescents, especially girls and students of color. This post unpacks why ELs are at heightened… Continue reading Student Mental Health Support for English Learners: Trauma-Informed SEL That Works
In classrooms across America, beloved bilingual educators are burning out, and students are paying the price. Public teachers in the U.S. are already facing some mental health challenges: The 2024 RAND American Teacher Survey found that about twice as many teachers reported experiencing burnout when compared to similar working adults. And for bilingual teachers, the… Continue reading Teacher Well-Being Is Student Success: Mental-Health Grants That Keep Veteran Bilingual Teachers in the Classroom
Is your school or district struggling with a bilingual teacher shortage? You are not alone. The United States entered the 2025-26 school year with somewhere between 42,000 and 100,000 vacant teaching positions, and bilingual/ESL classrooms were hit the hardest, leaving roughly one in four English-learner seats without a certified teacher. Yet, inside those very classrooms,… Continue reading Grow Your Own: Solving America’s Bilingual Teacher Shortage
