"The U.S. Department of Education’s decision to rescind its 2015 guidance on supporting English Learners undermines decades of progress in educational equity. In L.A. County, more than 200,000 students are currently classified as English Learners, and nearly 1.2 million more speak a language other than English at home. Their cultural and linguistic diversity is an asset that enriches our classrooms, strengthens our communities and prepares our future workforce.

For the past decade, the federal guidance has provided schools with clear expectations for meeting civil rights obligations and delivering consistent, high-quality support to English Learners. Its removal creates uncertainty, weakens accountability and risks widening opportunity gaps, especially when resources are already stretched thin. Without clear federal direction, students who arrive eager to learn may instead face fragmented services and systemic barriers.

As a County, we remain steadfast in ensuring that English Learners have equitable access to education, advocating for restored protections and funding and expanding local programs that uplift students while honoring the diversity they bring. Our students’ languages and cultures are not obstacles to overcome, they are strengths to be recognized, valued and celebrated."

-Dr. Debra Duardo
Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools