Key Programs Affecting English Learners:

Title I (Low-Income Students):
Funding will remain level with the prior year. This is important for English Learners (ELs), many of whom are served through Title I due to concentrated poverty in their districts. Click here for supplemental programs.

Title III (English Learners):
No cuts; level funding maintained. Congress rejected the administration’s proposal to significantly reduce or eliminate Title III. States and districts can expect similar allocations as last year.

Migrant Education Program (MEP):
Funding is also held steady year over year, ensuring continued support for migratory children, many of whom are English Learners.

Key details of the approved education funding include:

Early Childhood: $12.357 billion for Head Start (+$85 million) and $8.831 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (+$85 million).

K-12 and Special Education: The bill maintains level funding for most existing programs, with a $20 million increase for special education and $5 million more for rural education.

Support Services: Funding was sustained for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Promise Neighborhoods, and Preschool Development Grants.

Stability: The legislation prevents cuts to critical resources for vulnerable students, including mental health support and high-poverty district funding.

The package provides full-year funding, ensuring that while some government areas face further negotiations, the Department of Education’s budget for 2026 is finalized.

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1. Increased College Enrollment Rates – When families understand financial aid, admissions requirements, and application deadlines, students are more likely to pursue higher education.

2. Better Financial Planning – Many Hispanic families are unaware of scholarships, grants, and FAFSA opportunities. Learning about financial aid can help ease the financial burden of college.

3. Parental Involvement and Support – Studies show that students perform better when parents are engaged in their education. Parents who understand the college process can provide motivation and encouragement.

4. Breaking Generational Barriers – First-generation students often lack guidance on college-related decisions. Educating both parents and students helps break cycles of limited higher education access.

5. Career Advancement and Economic Mobility – College graduates tend to earn higher salaries and have more career opportunities, improving the financial stability of Hispanic families.

One effective program supporting families is Graciela’s Dream: One family’s journey to college, which helps parents develop literacy skills while learning how to navigate the American education system. This school-based program provides bilingual resources, workshops, and structured activities that promote family reading time and parental engagement. It also educates parents on essential topics like college preparation, financial aid, and academic expectations. By empowering parents with knowledge, the program strengthens family involvement and increases student success rates. Schools implementing this program create a welcoming environment where Hispanic families feel welcomed and supported in achieving educational goals.
By attending school programs for college awareness, students gain the tools and family support needed to successfully pursue higher education.
Teachers can attend a webinar to learn the step-by-step program curriculum.

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Parent and family engagement is a cornerstone of academic achievement, especially for English Learners (ELs). Active family engagement not only enhances ELs’ language development but also amplifies their overall educational experiences. Dive into the transformative effects to maximize English learner success through parent and family engagement at schools. outcomes:

1. Boosted Academic Performance: Studies consistently indicate that ELs with involved families tend to excel academically. When families champion education at home, it propels student drive and ambition, resulting in heightened academic results.

2. Bridging Diverse Cultures and Languages: Acknowledging the rich tapestry of ELs’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds is paramount. Schools that promote family involvement pave the way for cultural inclusivity, forging a communal bond for EL students and their families.

3. Cultivating Trust Through Transparent Communication: Trust and open communication serve as the bedrock for true engagement. It’s essential for schools to offer precise, prompt updates about students’ linguistic and academic trajectories, complemented by translation services for non-English proficient families.

4. Crafting an Inclusive Educational Atmosphere: A warm, inviting school ambiance acts as a magnet for EL family participation. Initiatives like cultural events, orientation sessions, and staff training on cultural sensitivity can elevate the school’s welcoming quotient.

5. Embracing a Collaborative Educational Approach: A genuine partnership between schools and families hinges on mutual dialogue. By seeking familial input on a child’s educational blueprint, schools can tailor a holistic, individualized learning experience.

6. Elevating Families as EL Champions: Empowered families can become potent advocates for their wards and the broader EL community. Schools can offer tools and insights to help families adeptly navigate the educational maze, ensuring they are informed and influential stakeholders.

7. Training Educators for Culturally Inclusive Engagement: Teacher training is pivotal in optimizing family involvement. Workshops focusing on cultural awareness, family liaison techniques, and bespoke engagement strategies can equip educators to seamlessly integrate families into the academic ecosystem.

In Conclusion: There are many ways to maximize EL success through parent and family engagement. The synergy between schools and families profoundly influences the trajectory of students. Embracing the multifaceted backgrounds and insights of EL families can set the stage for academic excellence and holistic student development.

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Improving equity and student outcomes has become a big focal point of discussion across the country. Equity is the focus on ensuring that everyone receives what they need to be successful – even if it means being unequal across socioeconomic lines. According to the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), equity’s primary concern is “creating school cultures that recognize and value diversity.”

Students come to school with diverse backgrounds, languages, abilities and challenges. With a focus on Equity and Access, it means that our schools will have the capacity to differentiate instruction and resources to respond to the needs of their students, in order to benefit all students. Areas of focus may be related to socioeconomic disadvantages, language differences between English Learners and native English speakers, and students with disabilities. Research shows that equity in schooling is reflected in four broad areas: a) resource distribution, b) programs, c) school climate, and d) achievement.

Programs like Title I, Part A for Parent Involvement and Title III for English Learners help us to achieve equity, and staff development can help educators and stakeholders to provide culturally responsive education. Teacher training is a necessary tool for ensuring equity training and that culturally appropriate outreach efforts are made to support families. Much research has been done on how parents and communities can play key roles in school success.

The Latino Family Literacy Project can train school staff to support working with Hispanic parents and students. The award-winning programs and culturally competent framework for integrating Spanish-speaking parents into school academics are broken down in such a way that when teachers and paraprofessionals complete the training, they are ready to work together in their new outreach efforts with parents. Parents learn new ways of participating with each other at school and with their children using culturally relevant literature for reading comprehension, vocabulary development, ESL, and are provided with materials for home use.

The post Improving Equity and Student Outcomes appeared first on The Latino Family Literacy Project.

Parent engagement is a critical factor in academic success

Enhanced Academic Performance: When Spanish-speaking families actively support their children’s education, students are more likely to excel. Home reinforcement can enhance the skills of parents if their educational attainment has been interrupted and will also support parents who may also have advanced educational attainment. VIEW PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Celebrating Biculturalism: Schools that recognize and integrate the distinct cultural and linguistic heritage of Spanish-speaking families promote an atmosphere of inclusivity, enriching the educational environment for all students. Engaging families where parents are speaking and reading in Spanish, and whose children are learning English at a faster rate can bolster language acquisition by using bilingual books to support the strengths of the entire family. VIEW BILINGUAL BOOK COLLECTIONS

Transparent Communication in Spanish: Establishing trust with Spanish-speaking families requires clear communication in their native language. Schools should offer timely updates on students’ progress and provide translation services to ensure comprehension and collaboration. Schools can allocate a point person who speaks Spanish that parents can contact.

Inclusive School Atmosphere: Creating a welcoming environment specifically for Spanish-speaking families can involve hosting bilingual cultural events and providing orientation sessions that cater to their linguistic needs. Establish regular meetings on campus to help parents to feel more confident at school. SEE WHAT PARENTS HAVE TO SAY

Collaborative Education Plans: Inviting Spanish-speaking parents to share their perspectives and preferences can help schools develop customized educational plans that respect cultural nuances and language preferences.

Empowering Parents as Advocates: Providing Spanish-speaking families with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate the educational system can transform them into powerful advocates for their children and the wider EL community.

Culturally Responsive Teacher Training: Preparing educators to engage effectively with Spanish-speaking families through training in cultural competence and communication strategies can significantly enhance the educational experience for ELs. VIEW TRAINING OPTIONS

Finally, fostering a strong partnership with Spanish-speaking families is essential for maximizing the success of English Learners. Schools that embrace and celebrate the rich cultural and linguistic backgrounds of families create an educational environment where students can thrive academically and personally.

The post Strategies for Enhancing Parent Engagement with English Learners appeared first on The Latino Family Literacy Project.

In today’s education landscape, the importance of fostering strong relationships between schools and families cannot be overstated. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is through an asset-based approach to parent engagement in schools. This method highlights and leverages parents’ strengths, skills, and capacities to support their children’s academic and social growth. By incorporating this approach, schools can foster a more inclusive and collaborative educational environment.

At the heart of the asset-based approach to parent engagement in schools is the belief that all parents possess unique strengths, talents, and experiences that can be channeled to benefit the school community. Instead of viewing parents through a deficit lens, which focuses on what they lack or cannot do, this approach emphasizes what they bring to the table.

One of the primary benefits of this approach in schools is its ability to bridge cultural and socioeconomic divides. When parents are recognized and valued for their contributions, they are more likely to participate actively in their children’s education. This increased involvement has been linked to better academic outcomes, improved school attendance, and a more positive school climate.

For schools aiming to implement the asset-based approach to parent engagement in schools, the following steps can be taken:

Acknowledge Diversity: Celebrate your student and parent population’s diverse backgrounds, languages, and cultures. This recognition can be a rich source of learning and growth for the entire school community.

Empower Parents: Provide avenues for parents to share their skills, talents, and experiences. This could be through workshops, volunteering, or even parent classes.

Open Lines of Communication: Ensure regular communication with parents, inviting them to share feedback, concerns, and suggestions. This creates a two-way dialogue where parents feel heard and valued.

Incorporating these strategies ensures that the asset-based approach to parent engagement in schools is not just a buzzword but a tangible method for strengthening school communities. Remember, when parents are empowered, engaged, and valued, the entire educational ecosystem thrives.

By adopting an asset-based approach to parent engagement in schools, we can pave the way for a more holistic, inclusive, and collaborative education system that benefits all stakeholders.

Check out all programs offered by Lectura Books.

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After a five-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) and in collaboration with the University of North Texas (UNT), The Latino Family Literacy Project learned from university-led evaluations and research that the program had a substantial, very effective, and lasting impact on the 150 English-learner families who were part of the initiative.

“Project Success” was a DOE Title III National Professional Development Program launched and implemented in collaboration with UNT’s College of Education. It began in 2018 and concluded in 2023 with remarkable results. In-depth evaluations show that parents became more engaged with teachers, learned strategies to read with their children, and connected with the Project’s bilingual books because the stories are culturally relevant for their families.

“We are pleased with the impressive results our project had on this inspiring program,” said Katherine Del Monte, the director of The Latino Family Literacy Project. “Our collaboration with UNT’s College of Education on this Department of Education-funded program was quite positive. Thirteen elementary schools in the Carrollton Farmers Branch School District with bilingual programs had over 150 Spanish-speaking families participate. Sixty-seven PK-2 teachers received professional development to implement our family literacy project.

Over 90 percent of the families reported that the activities were “very effective” in engaging with teachers and their children in biliteracy activities.

Post-program evaluations found The Latino Family Literacy Project’s sessions cultivated confidence among the families and provided the necessary tools to develop reading habits with their children at home. The program also helped create a collaborative relationship between parents, teachers, and pre-service teachers at UNT and increased an appreciation for culturally relevant biliteracy books and activities.

For the first time ever in The Latino Family Literacy Project’s 23-year history, a home visit study with parents who participated in the program was undertaken. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of its parent engagement training and workshop sessions with parents. Here is what was learned from the home visits with parents: Latino parents do want to be part of school life; Latino families can effectively be engaged using English and Spanish materials; having culturally responsive activities has a major positive and practical effect on ELL families; and the value of selecting materials that align with the cultural heritage of the families is critical.

Here is a summary of Project SUCCESS and The Latino Family Literacy Project at Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD:

• 13 elementary schools in the Carrollton Farmers Branch School District with bilingual programs participated in The Latino Family Literacy Project activities in 5 years.
• 67 PK-2 teachers received professional development and engaged with Latino families on biliteracy development activities.
• Over 150 families over 5 years participated in the sessions with teachers.
• Over 90% of parents reported in the post-program survey that the activities were “Very Effective” in engaging with teachers and their children in biliteracy activities.
• The consensus from parents was that they were more involved in the community and school and that they learned strategies to read with their children, how to read, and become better readers.
• The families connected with the stories in the books because they represented aspects of their culture.
• The sessions cultivated confidence among the families and provided the necessary tools to develop reading habits with their children at home.
• The program helped create a collaborative relationship between  parents, teachers, and pre-service teachers.
• The program helped increase an understanding about how to implement culturally relevant biliteracy development at home.
Learn More

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Title III of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was put in place to ensure that English Language Learners (ELLs) can attain proficiency in English and achieve academic achievement via family engagement. Title III was also enforced to help teachers, administrators, and other school leaders develop and enhance their ability to provide instructional programs that are effective and beneficial for all parties involved. This section of the ESSA promotes parental, family, and community participation in language acquisition and educational programs.

The ESSA helps to strengthen family connections to schools and how schools cultivate relationships with ELL families. Research demonstrates that family engagement has a direct positive correlation to the academic and social-emotional growth of students. Increasing family engagement is a requirement in order to receive ESSA funds. Some types of culturally relevant family engagement schools can encourage are as follows:

• Inform teachers about cultural celebrations so that they are able to incorporate them into lessons. School administrators can provide memos offering ideas for activities for these special days.
• Teachers should recognize, learn about, and celebrate special events, celebrations, or holidays from diverse cultures throughout the school year.
• School administrators and teachers can invite parents to come to school events and the classroom to share food and participate in various activities and events.
• Teachers can encourage students to share their traditions and food at school.
• School cafeterias can offer food that reflects cultural influences from the student population.
• Schools and teachers can post signs in multiple languages and have bilingual morning greeters to welcome students and their parents.
• Schools can display flags and maps of their student’s native countries.

For more information on how schools and teachers can provide additional culturally relevant family engagement opportunities, check out The Latino Literacy Project. The Project offers webinars on how schools, teachers, and parents can work together to foster opportunities for academic success.

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Family engagement plays an essential role in education and student achievement.  In fact, parental and family engagement has been an integral component in Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).  The ESEA explicitly outlines how schools and families should work in tandem to boost the academic success of English Learner (EL) students.  Research demonstrates that partnerships between families, school staff, and teachers, in which all parties involved see themselves as equal partners and have mutual respect for each other, increases student achievement and creates an environment conducive to family and parental engagement.  For that reason, SEDL in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education drafted the “Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School Partnerships” to support parental involvement.

Here is an overview of the “Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School Partnerships” on how to create family partnerships to support student achievement.

The framework is comprised of five essential supports:

1.     Leadership is seen as the driver for change

2.     Professional capacity

3.     Parent-community ties

4.     Student-centered learning climate

5.     Instructional guidance

The Dual Capacity-Building Framework was created using extensive research on family engagement and the home-school relationship.  The framework creators also took into consideration practices, strategies, leadership development, and learning concepts that lead to effective parental involvement. 

The desired outcomes of the Dual Capacity-Building Framework include:

·      Families taking on multiple roles such as supporters, monitors, decision-makers, collaborators, encouragers, and advocates.

·      Teachers and school staff who honor and recognize families’ knowledge base.

·      Teachers and school staff who make a connection between family/parental engagement and student learning.

·      Teachers and school staff must create a welcoming and culturally sensitive environment.

The Latino Family Literacy Project offers webinars to teach these and other strategies for working with EL families.  Our programs focus on preparing teachers and school staff for working with parents to encourage parental engagement and boost academic success.  In addition to our informative training, we offer an abundance of resources and tips in our blog.

Family Partnerships to Support Student Achievement

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Our program success begins with an online training for school staff to implement a practical step-by-step curriculum for parent and family engagement. After 20 years of success throughout the United States, we know that parents want to develop new academic and language skills to support their kids. Once the parents feel a connection to the school community that comes with a result of our regular program meetings, they want to continue building on those connections. We hope to see parents and students truly engaged as lifelong learners with skills that will empower them to succeed in life and at any school system of their choice.

Culturally responsive parent engagement is an effective way to integrate the school staff, family culture, and academics. To ensure this is taking place at your school, your staff should be trained in cultural competency in order to provide a transformational parent program for reading, vocabulary, and ESL at your school.

Parents love attending our school-based programs because we use bilingual books in Spanish and English. Spanish-speaking parents can read with their kids in Spanish, and their kids, who are often learning English at a faster rate than their parents, can read in English and practice the new vocabulary offered at the back of each book. Together, they share literature and improve reading skills at home because parents are offered an opportunity to practice reading and build vocabulary in the parent group with other parents, led by trained school staff.

Ultimately, the key to integrating other languages and cultures into the school environment is with the parents. It is through the participation of parents at school that teachers and their students will be able to transform diversity into mutual respect and improve academics with all students.

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