The U.S. Department of Education will dissolve its Office of English Language Acquisition and reassign its duties across other offices. Title III formula funding administration will move to the same office that handles Title I, teacher-training work will go to the Office of Effective Educator Development Programs, and Native-language programs will transfer to the Office of Indian Education. Officials say the changes will streamline work and empower states; advocates warn the reorganization could weaken federal oversight and support for vulnerable English learner and Native students.
U.S. Education Department to Disband Office Serving About 5 Million English Learners
The U.S. Department of Education plans to dissolve its Office of English Language Acquisition, which has provided guidance and support to roughly 5 million English learners across the country.
Officials said the move is part of a broader reorganization intended to streamline the department and reduce administrative overlap. Department leaders told Congress in a February letter that responsibilities of the standalone office will be reassigned to other units within the department that oversee related programs.
What’s Changing
Title III funding, which helps states educate English learners, will be administered by the same office that handles major K–12 programs such as Title I. Teacher training programs aimed at educators of English learners will move to the Office of Effective Educator Development Programs. Language programs serving Native American and Alaska Native students will be relocated to the Office of Indian Education.
The department emphasized that the reorganization will not change students’ legal rights under federal law. In a written statement, Assistant Education Secretary Kirsten Baesler said the changes will “align work across teams, reduce administrative burden, and empower states to design integrated supports.” Baesler added, “English Learners should never be treated as a siloed program, set aside as an afterthought.”
Concerns From Advocates
Advocates and many educators warned that dissolving the office could weaken federal oversight, reduce the availability of centralized expertise and resources, and make it harder to ensure federal funds are used appropriately. The office has historically played a role in publishing guidance, sharing best practices and disseminating research about effective instruction for English learners.
The Office of English Language Acquisition had already seen reductions during earlier rounds of layoffs. Last August, the department quietly rescinded guidance that many states and districts rely on to protect the rights of immigrant students — a move that prompted concern among civil-rights advocates.
With the office’s responsibilities spread across states and local districts, advocates worry uneven capacity and past failures to meet English learners’ needs could lead to gaps in services and more legal challenges where students’ needs are not met.
Wider Restructuring
The department is also relocating the entire Office of Elementary and Secondary Education to the Department of Labor, while some programs related to Native American student education are being moved to the Department of the Interior, according to department communications. Education Week and other outlets reported details of the February letter notifying Congress.
“Embedding English language acquisition across priorities such as literacy, content, educator preparation and accountability ensures it receives the seriousness and sustained focus it deserves,” the department said.
Chalkbeat originally published this story. Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site that covers change in public schools.
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