EdTrust-West strongly condemns the federal government’s decision to rescind longstanding guidance that ensures English learners receive the services and supports they are legally entitled to. This action, following an executive order declaring English the nation’s official language, undermines decades of civil rights protections and is a direct attack on immigrant students and communities. 

With more than one million English learners in California, our state must lead where the federal government has failed. These students deserve access to high-quality, evidence-based instruction that meets their linguistic and academic needs. California leaders have both a legal and moral responsibility to protect the rights of English learners and to expand, not roll back, programs that help them thrive. 

We call on California’s policymakers and education officials to reject this decision, uphold civil rights, and invest in bilingual education, dual-language programs, and culturally responsive instruction. EdTrust-West stands with immigrant families, multilingual learners, and educators in defending the right to an equitable education for all students.