[Edling] Today! | Briefing: What OELA Cuts Mean for Students, Schools and the Economy

[Francis M. Hult via Edling]

Urgent Briefing: What OELA Cuts Mean for Students, Schools and the Economy

Date & Time: May 13, 2026 01:00 PM in US and Canada

he National English Learners Roundtable has announced that it will host a
virtual press briefing on Wednesday, May 13 at 1:00 p.m. ET ahead of a key
May 14 deadline by which the U.S. Department of Education plans to close
the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA), the federal office
dedicated to supporting English learners.

The briefing will center on the economic stakes of eliminating OELA,
including how the decision would weaken the country’s future workforce by
reducing support for students learning English. Additionally, speakers will:

- Explain how English learner programs help students build the language,
academic, and career skills needed to graduate, pursue higher education,
enter high-demand industries, and contribute to local and national
economies.
- They will also discuss how closing OELA would create uncertainty for
schools, strain educators, and undermine the federal government’s
leadership role in helping immigrant and multilingual students become fully
prepared participants in the U.S. economy.

The briefing comes one day before U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon
is scheduled to testify before the House Committee on Education and
Workforce at a hearing titled “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the
Department of Education.”

OELA has supported the Title III program, the only federal funding stream
dedicated to English learners. Speakers will also highlight the impact in
states with large English learner populations, including California, Texas,
and Florida.

Register here:
https://unidosus.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ob8josjJQc6uUOLv7KtLVg#/registration
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/edling/attachments/20260513/a2900726/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------


_______________________________________________
Edling mailing list
Edling at lists.mail.umbc.edu
https://lists.mail.umbc.edu/mailman/listinfo/edling