Program News for Bilingual Education & English as a New Language
September 2, 2025
October 15, 2024
September 28, 2023
September 26, 2023
August 16, 2023
September 24, 2021
April 13, 2021
March 8, 2021
September 4, 2020
In order to align with 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ’s current COVID-19 Guidance, the Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages (OBEWL) has created a revised Parent Notification Letter. This letter has been translated into the 10 languages most commonly spoken by English Language Learners (ELLs) in 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ State.
Districts and schools may use this letter to inform them of their child’s ELL Identification...
July 15, 2020
The outbreak of COVID-19 and school closures throughout 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ State (NYS) are exceptional circumstances that have affected how all educational and related services and supports are provided. The following announcemtn from the 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ State Education Department (91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ) addresses the provision of services to English Language Learners and World Languages students during statewie school closures...
April 23, 2020
The Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages (OBEWL) at the 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ State Education Department (91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ) is regularly updating a Calendar of Professional Learning events organized by the Regional Bilingual Education Resource Networks (RBERNs) around the state. These professional learning events will be helpful for teachers and administrators who work with English Language Learners (ELLs).
March 13, 2019
In January 2018, the 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ State Board of Regents directed the Office of P-12 Education and Higher Education to convene a panel of experts, engage with stakeholders, and develop from the ground up a framework for culturally responsive-sustaining education. The 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ University Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools, under the leadership of Dr. David...
March 7, 2019
An informed, empowered community of parents, guardians and other persons in parental relation is critical to ensuring that Multilingual Learners/ English Language Learners (MLLs/ELLs) are well supported and thrive. The 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ State Education Department's Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages (OBEWL) has created A Guide to Community-Based Organizations for Immigrants which...
November 20, 2018
School District Justification to Expand the Maximum Allowable Grade Span to Three Contiguous Grades in 1-12 English as a New Language (ENL) or Bilingual Education (BE) Classes.
November 20, 2018
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ State's ESSA Plan for Growth in English Language Proficiency (ELP) Webinar
This webinar focuses on the 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ State English as a second language achievement test and provides an overview of four steps to determine a school-level rating in ELP:
Probability of students meeting growth targets
Aggregating probabilities at the school level (aka school benchmark)
Calculate the...
November 2, 2018
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ State is using seven indicators as part of its overall ESSA plan, and this includes an indicator for English Language Proficiency (ELP). To ensure that English Language Learners/Multilingual Learners (ELLs/MLLs) are showing adequate progress, 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ is using a growth model that is based on student performance on the 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT)...
September 19, 2018
2018-2019 CR Part 154 Reporting Requirements
Memorandum from Assistant Commissioner Colon-Collins regarding 2018 CR Part 154 Comprehensive ELL Education Plan Reporting Requirements
As in previous years, all Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) are required under Part 154 of the Commissioner’s Regulations (CR Part 154), to develop and submit a CR Part 154 Comprehensive ELL Education Plan (CEEP...
September 19, 2018
The following guidance document introduces the 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ protocol. School-based UPK programs, community-based organizations (CBO), and interested community members will find useful information and guidance to support instruction and programming for this population of children:
Guidance: EMERGENT MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS IN PREKINDERGARTEN A Protocol for Identification, Instructional Planning &...
September 19, 2018
Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Translated Resources
On August 31, 2016 Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia released a joint statement to assist schools and districts in complying with the 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ State Dignity for All Students Act (DASA). Please visit the Attorney General’s website to view the full press...
April 3, 2018
This page contains links to 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ information regarding students and teachers who have relocated to 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ State following recent natural disasters.
February 16, 2018
This new resource is intended to assist Local Education Agencies (LEAs), school administrators, and educators in meeting the requirements set forth in the regulations and to clarify questions regarding their implementation.
December 13, 2017
Click here for access to materials and PowerPoints presented at the November 30th conference.
December 8, 2017
The 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ State Education Department (91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ) is pleased to present to you a series of eight topic briefs produced for 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ by Nonie K. Lesaux, PhD from Harvard University & Emily Phillips Galloway, EdD from Vanderbilt University. These briefs are designed to aid 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ State educators in implementing the NYS Next Generation Learning Standards; complement and support the Next Generation...
December 1, 2017
On April 3, 2017, the 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ State Board of Regents (BOR) approved a protocol for Emergent Multilingual Learners developed to guide and support state-funded Prekindergarten programs in implementing best practices relative to the role of the home language. At the April meeting, staff was directed to utilize the Emergent Multilingual Learners (EMLLs) Language Profile for Prekindergarten Students...
September 14, 2017
Parent Guide to Understanding the NYSESLAT Score Report: Updated for 2017
This document is intended to help families, students, educators, and the public to better understand the 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT), and interpret the 2017 NYSESLAT Score Report for each English Language Learner (ELL) / Multilingual Learner (MLL).
April 19, 2017
OBEWL is making available a set of Topic Briefs on ELL/MLL best practices prepared by Aida Walqui and others at WestEd, "a nonpartisan, nonprofit research, development, and service agency working with education and other communities throughout the United States and abroad." Dr. Walqui has had a long and successful career in the development of teacher expertise to work with...
April 19, 2017
In light of recent federal immigration-related actions that have created fear and confusion in 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ and across the country, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia reminded school districts of their duty to comply with existing state and federal laws that ensure the rights of immigrant children to attend 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ’s public schools without fear of...
February 15, 2017
This webinar provides an overview of the Multilingual Literacy SIFE Screener for Math.
December 2, 2016
The Parent Guide to Understanding the NYSESLAT Score Report is now available.
October 27, 2016
The Interactive Translation PenPal Home Language Questionnaire (HLQ) Toolkit is the first technologically based solution to enhance appropriate identification of English Language Learner (ELL).
October 27, 2016
In September of 2016, the Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages released the Multilingual Literacy Screener (MLS) as part of the valuable resources designed to support districts and schools in the identification of Students with Inconsistent/Interrupted Formal Education (SIFE).
The MLS is a state-wide diagnostic tool that was created to determine SIFEs' literacy levels in...
October 27, 2016
The 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ State Seal of Biliteracy (NYSSB) recognizes high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages, in addition to English.
October 27, 2016
The Comprehensive English Language Learner Education Plan (CEEP) will replace what was formerly known as the Commissioner’s Regulations (CR) Part 154 Comprehensive Plan.
Recent 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ News
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