Office of English Language Acquisition: Mission, Programs, and Policies

• In Event: Informing Public Scholarship on Multilingual and English Language Learners: Understanding Federal Education Policies and Data

Abstract

This panelist will begin with a brief overview of purview and role of the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) in the U.S. Department of Education. Dedicated to guide research, policy and practice that support English Learners (EL) in grades K-12, OELA’s mission is to ensure equity in educational opportunities for ELs and improve academic achievement by disseminating knowledge of promising practices in English language acquisition. Envisioning classrooms where teachers, and all educational professionals, are ready to address the learning needs of ELs from all backgrounds and experiences, OELA seeks to elevate the needs of English learners in the national conversation on education by shifting the focus from a deficit perspective to a strengths-based outlook. Consequently, it is critical for second language and education researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers to work toward integrating the strengths-based perspective in all areas and systemically securing high-quality programs for learning English, supporting multi-literacy and multilingualism, and promoting cultural responsiveness.
Then, the presenter will illustrate how OELA takes a national role in programs and policies to serve multi-lingual and ELs, such as by disseminating research, promising practices, and developments in the field of English acquisition and multi-lingual learning through the National Clearinghouse on English Language Acquisition (NCELA). Programs funded by OELA include professional learning and teacher preparation through the National Professional Development Grant, and the preservation and revitalization of Native American languages through the Native American and Alaska Native Children in Schools Grant. In addition, OELA supports a variety of research initiatives in the Department and in partnership with other federal agencies. The speaker will conclude by discussing topics of interest to second language researchers for which OELA provides expertise and funding. These research topics include: early learning, English Learners with disabilities, digital learning, and identification of English Learners for gifted and talented programs.

Author

• Carlos Martinez, U.S. Department of Education