JOINT STATEMENT: Advocates for English Learners and 'Science of Reading'

SEAL is honored to join 190 individuals and 80 organizations in a joint statement to help California move past roadblocks to adopt a comprehensive literacy plan and ensure that all children can read by third grade, including important skills for students learning English as a second language.The Joint Agreement reads in part ...In March 2023, TheReadingLeague (TRL) and the National Committee for Effective Literacy (NCEL) convened for an in-person summit - which included two presentations from SEAL.

In addition to  to highlight the areas of alignment between experts in the fields of reading science and English learner/emergent bilingual (EL/EB) education. What emergedAmong the agreements, the authors agreed that when possible, students should have access to dual language instruction, in which students learn to read and write in both their home language and English. “A student’s home language is an asset that should be valued and nurtured,” reads the statement. “

Instructional practices in which teachers explicitly encourage students to make connections between their home language and English benefit their language and literacy development.”