The National Shortage of ELL Teachers Has Caught the Eye of Congress

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The National Shortage of ELL Teachers Has Caught the Eye of Congress

A group of Democrats in Congress has introduced a bill designed to remedy the national shortage of teachers who work with English-language learners.bilingual teacher qualification

The Reaching English Learners Act would create a grant program under Title II of the Higher Education Act, the part of the law that governs teacher preparation, to pave the way for colleges and school districts to develop curricula for aspiring ELL teachers.

In 2016, the U.S. Department of Education reported that at least 32 states have a shortage of teachers to work with English-learners, but the problem is not new. School districts have struggled for decades to find qualified bilingual teachers, especially in communities where English is not the first language for many students.With the nationwide growth in the number of English-language-learner students, more districts are tapping a thin talent pool—and challenges remain even after schools fill vacancies. A 2017 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that teachers who work with English-learners are often underprepared for the job.

Democratic U.S. Reps. Alma Adams of North Carolina, Adriano Espaillat of New York, Raul Grijalva of Arizona, and Jim Langevin of Rhode Island co-sponsored the legislation. Adams, Espaillat, and Grijalva are all members of the House Education Committee. The lawmakers want the grants to help develop educators who can recognize and address the social-emotional needs of English-learners, identify and teach English-learner students with disabilities, and promote family and community engagement in ELL programs.

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, TESOL International Association, the organization for teachers who specialize in working with English-learners, and UnidosUS are among the organizations supporting the legislation.