Serving Multilingual Learners: Laws and Regulations

Serving Multilingual Learners: Laws, Policies, and Regulations provides educators and educational leaders with a clear, accessible resource for understanding the laws, policies, and regulations that shape multilingual learners’ education.

This second edition reflects important developments in law, policy, research, and practice, including a stronger emphasis on strengths-based and culturally and linguistically sustaining practices, a deeper understanding of the impact of childhood adversity, and increased attention to partnerships among students, families, schools, and communities.

The guide offers practical explanations, embedded references, examples, and resources to help educators understand their legal responsibilities and apply them within their own contexts. It is designed to support the development of programs and services that are legally compliant, evidence-based, and responsive to multilingual learners’ strengths and needs.

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Available free through Colorín Colorado, Serving Multilingual Learners: Laws, Policies, and Regulations is a comprehensive guide for exploring specific topics related to multilingual learner education.

Related Podcast and Resources

Explore Tan Huynh’s conversation with Debbie Zacarian and Lydia Breiseth, Director of Colorín Colorado, about Serving Multilingual Learners: Laws, Policies, and Regulations. This special feature includes Episode #212 of the Teaching MLs podcast, an annotated transcript, and related resources for professional learning and family outreach.

Listen to the conversation and explore the accompanying resources.

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Debbie Zacarian

Dr. Debbie Zacarian is an internationally recognized leader in strengths-based education, specializing in inclusive systems, leadership, and policy that improve outcomes for multilingual learners and students experiencing adversity. With more than 30 years of experience as a district administrator, university professor, and leader of an educational service agency, she integrates research, policy, and practice to improve outcomes. Her background in clinical psychology and educational policy informs an approach grounded in how students and educators experience systems. As founder of Zacarian & Associates, she partners with schools, universities, and organizations worldwide to design and implement high-impact professional learning, strategic initiatives, and policy frameworks. Through keynotes, workshops, and consulting, she helps educators and leaders apply research to improve teaching, learning, and student outcomes. A best-selling author and widely respected thought leader, Dr. Zacarian equips educators and leaders with practical tools to build inclusive learning environments where all students can thrive, contribute, and succeed.

Serving Multilingual Learners: Laws, Policies, and Regulations

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Debbie Zacarian