White House Rolls Back Protections for English Learners
The U.S. Education Department has quietly rescinded key rules requiring schools to support students learning English, prompting concern from advocates for the nation’s estimated 5 million English learners, The Washington Post reports.
The guidance, originally issued in 2015, was officially withdrawn because it “is not in line with Administration policy,” the department confirmed on Tuesday. The rollback aligns with a broader federal shift following President Trump’s executive order declaring English the official language of the United States, according to The Independent. The administration is also moving to reduce multilingual services across federal agencies.
Since March, the Education Department has significantly reduced the role of its Office of English Language Acquisition and asked Congress to cut funding for programs serving English learners. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has instructed federal agencies to drop prior guidance related to these students, challenging a long-held interpretation that failing to provide English-language support may constitute discrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
Advocates and former officials warn that without federal oversight, underfunded school districts may scale back support for non-English speakers. They fear this could undermine decades of protections shaped by landmark Supreme Court rulings and federal law. Critics argue the changes could weaken instruction and create confusion for schools and families, while supporters say focusing on English fosters assimilation and reduces costs.
The Justice Department says it will issue new guidance by mid-January to clarify when multilingual services are required. In the meantime, education experts are closely watching how school districts respond—especially those previously under federal scrutiny for compliance.
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