Rep. Grijalva Introduces English Language Learner Education Package to Support Students, Families, and Educators

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Adelita S. Grijalva introduced a package of English Language Learner bills, comprehensive legislation that includes the Reaching English Learners Act, the Families Learning and Understanding English Together (FLUENT) Act, and the Supporting Young Language Learners’ Access to Bilingual Education (SYLLABLE) Act.
English Learners (ELs) make up 10.6% of the nation's K-12 population, totaling over 5 million public school students. This diverse demographic spans one in ten students nationwide, including native speakers of Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, and many other languages. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the high school graduation rate for ELs sits at just 68 percent, compared to 85 percent for their non-EL peers.
Together, these bills would provide sustained investments in programs, partnerships, and services that support English learners, their families, and the educators who serve them.
The package includes:
The Reaching English Learners Act would strengthen partnerships between institutions of higher education and high-need local educational agencies through competitive grants. The U.S. Department of Education reports that 32 states and the District of Columbia lack enough qualified EL educators. These grants would help pre-service teachers obtain English as a Second Language (ESL) licensure and prepare more educators to meet the needs of English learners.

The Families Learning and Understanding English Together (FLUENT) Act would expand literacy services for families of English learners with unmet literacy needs. By increasing access to literacy education and resources, the bill would help families strengthen educational, social, and economic opportunities.

“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. “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 promise of public education rests on our commitment to serve each and every student,” said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers. “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. 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.”