MOSCOW, January 7 (Sputnik) — The US Department of Justice (DOJ) released a first of its kind guidance package Wednesday, outlining obligations under federal law for states, schools and districts to ensure English learners in the United States get equal access to high-quality education.
“This is the first time that a single piece of guidance has addressed the array of federal laws that govern schools’ obligations to English learners,” a statement published on the department’s website read.
United States Departments of Justice and Education Release Joint Guidance to Ensure English Learner Students Have… http://t.co/pA1D8CfbqJ
— Justice Department (@TheJusticeDept) January 7, 2015
The new guidance comes 40 years after the US Supreme Court ruled that schools must ensure equity for students and families with limited English proficiency, in the Equal Educational Opportunities Act.
“It is crucial to our nation’s future that all schoolchildren, including English Learner students, have equal access to a high-quality education and the opportunity to achieve their full academic potential,” Acting Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta was quoted as saying in the DOJ statement.
The guidance comes not long after US President Barrack Obama deferred the deportation of more than 4 million immigrants. According to the Washington Post, many of the English learners are immigrants and the children of immigrants.
