Education Department quietly removes rules for teaching English learners
Source: Washington Post
WP EXCLUSIVE
Education Department quietly removes rules for teaching English learners
The move is an acceleration of President Donald Trump’s executive order declaring English the country’s “official language.”
August 20, 2025 at 6:00 a.m. EDTToday at 6:00 a.m. EDT
7 min
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Trump administration aims to “promote assimilation over division.” (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)
By Laura Meckler and Justine McDaniel
The Trump administration has quietly rescinded long-standing guidance that directed schools to accommodate students who are learning English, alarming advocates who fear that schools will stop offering assistance if the federal government quits enforcing the laws that require it.
{snip}
By Laura Meckler
Laura Meckler covers national education issues. She previously reported on the White House, politics and immigration for the Wall Street Journal and health and social policy for the Associated Press. Reach her securely on Signal at 202-446-4530 or laurameckler.11follow on X@laurameckler
By Justine McDaniel
Justine McDaniel covers national news. She joined The Washington Post in 2022 after reporting for the Philadelphia Inquirer.follow on XMcDanielJustine
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/08/20/education-department-english-learner-rules/
= new reply since forum marked as read
I don't have anything against learning English as a 2nd language, many of my closest friends were born elsewhere and came to the US in the 1950s and 60s. You know, back when it was a very cool thing to do. My point is that teachers are instinctively able to help their own students even if there is no program in place to teach them English. It's the parents who need the guidance with learning English, and it's not offered to them. Often the parents need to rely on their own children to translate and explain things to them
