ELL News Headlines

Children caught in natural or man-made disasters can suffer from trauma and bereavement far longer than adults realize, and this can affect not only how well they perform at school but also the trajectory of their lives, researchers say. Floodwaters eventually recede, power is restored, buildings are repaired and daily routines begin again, but many children struggle, finding it difficult to concentrate, do schoolwork and sleep. Some are scared to leave home for school, fearful something will happen to them or their families. And at school, some will act out, leading to suspension and expulsion, while others can’t concentrate, said David Schonfeld, head of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at the University of Southern California.

This Friday, September 15, kicks off National Hispanic Heritage Month, a four-week celebration of the cultures, histories, and peoples of Spanish, Mexican, Caribbean, and Central and South American descent. The following fiction, nonfiction, and professional reading titles explore the myriad ways in which Latinx young people navigate family, friendships, school, and public life in North America — and all are unforgettable reads.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) has announced the awarding of $20 million in grants under the National Professional Development Program (NPD), to support educators of English learner students.

Broken windows. Leaking roofs. Flooded classrooms. Downed trees. No electricity. That's some of what Florida school districts officials were seeing as many finally made their way onto school grounds Tuesday for their first close look at the damage from Hurricane Irma. But the most significant and pressing problem for many school districts — as for many of Irma's victims in Florida — is the lack of electricity. Even if school buildings did not sustain extensive damage, some K-12 officials said they could not say with certainty when school will reopen open because large segments of their communities were still in the dark.

The second-floor hallway of Freeman High School near Spokane, Wash., was at once a scene of chilling violence and pure bravery Wednesday morning. There, at around 10 a.m., one student brandished the guns he had stashed in a duffel bag, determined to begin his rampage. Another student, identified by local media as Sam Strahan, tried to stop him. "That type of courage," Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said, cost Strahan his life.

After years of reform and advocacy efforts, bilingual education activists across California celebrated the adoption of California's first new language policy in more than two decades — the English Learner Roadmap. The roadmap, unanimously adopted by the State Board of Education in July, is an online resource for school districts that will help guide curriculum, instruction and standards for the 1.4 million English learners in the state's public schools. The roadmap does not replace the English language development standards or state standards; it is intended to supplement them and inform policy about English learners.

In this guide for teachers new to working with ELLs, veteran teacher Wendi Pillars writes, "You have language learners in your classes? Congratulations! Imagine all the new angles and perspectives you can include in your teaching this year, the different ways you can tap into students' critical thinking abilities, and how you can design impactful learning experiences for all the children in your classroom. For teachers who have ELLs in their classrooms for the first time, or for the first time in a while, I've created a quick guide to help jump-start your instruction."

During Hurricane Harvey, one DACA recipient and his friend braved rising flood waters to try and rescue survivors. Alonso Guillén and Tomas Carreon joined up with a group of other rescuers, borrowed a boat, and headed out to Spring, Texas to help with recovery efforts. The rescue attempt turned tragic, however, when their boat got caught in a heavy current and crashed into a bridge. One man on the boat survived, but Guillén and Carreon went missing. Several days later, their bodies were found in a river. BuzzFeed reporter Salvador Hernandez initially reported this from Texas, and he spoke with Latino USA to share this story. His original article is available here.

A $2.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education will make it easier for three Missouri districts to meet new federal accountability metrics for students learning English. The grant allows Webster University to provide free English-language learner certification training to 120 teachers at Ritenour, Parkway and St. Louis Public Schools.

Jaime Ballesteros tried to contain his tears on Tuesday while teaching Brooklyn sixth graders about liquids, gases and solids. In between science classes at a charter school in East New York, he broke down at his desk. The government had just canceled the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which had granted temporary protection from deportation to immigrants brought to the country at a young age.  He was just one of the estimated 30,000 DACA recipients in New York who now face uncertain futures, according to statistics kept by the city.  "The last three years that I have been teaching was like a world of possibility for me and my students," said Mr. Ballesteros, 25, who is from the Philippines. "Today, I just didn't feel that same level of hope."