During a keynote on creating the conditions in which multilingual learners flourish, I asked participants a question: What do you wish your colleagues knew about the multilingual learners you serve? The district’s educators were participating in a professional learning day that began in a high school auditorium. Several school resource …
College rarely prepares teachers, administrators, and other school professionals to work with children and youth who have experienced trauma, particularly those living under the constant fear of family separation. Yet across the country, educators are increasingly being asked to navigate the very real effects of fear, instability, and uncertainty on …
In this episode, Tan Huynh interviews Colorín Colorado’s Lydia Breiseth and Dr. Debbie Zacarian, Ed.D., about the guide Serving Multilingual Learners: Laws, Policies, and Regulations. Written by Dr. Zacarian, the guide explains the federal, state, and local laws that shape the education of multilingual learners and provides practical, reader-friendly guidance …
Debbie Zacarian and Becki Cohn-Vargas Yorleni is a fourth grader who moved to New York from Nicaragua. At enrollment, her parents express concern about Yorleni. They share that Yorleni has been deeply affected by the recent death of her brother from cancer and has become much quieter. As educators, we …
A current proposal aims to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and Title III—the only federal funding specifically designated to support English Learners. Without this support, how can schools recruit and retain the qualified educators that English and multilingual learners need? This infographic breaks down what’s at stake for both …
Many multilingual learners (MLs) and their families face significant challenges and barriers that highlight the profound impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on vulnerable students. Failing to recognize the adversities that our MLs and their families are experiencing can limit our ability to support them effectively. Even with knowledge, we …
I recently read a thought-provoking article in Fast Company titled “Emotional Intelligence Is So 2020.” It opens with a powerful statement: “…people are starving to be seen, acknowledged, and witnessed.” The article features a business survey on empathy conducted by Ernst & Young LLP, revealing that 86% of employees believe …
Do you have questions about the laws and regulations for educating multilingual learners? The new resource, Serving Multilingual Learners: Laws, Policies, and Regulations (2025), is here to help! It provides a clear and accessible summary of federal laws, including ten common compliance issues highlighted in the 2015 Dear Colleague Letter …
Debbie Zacarian and Becki Cohn-Vargas When Francisco Lopez was twelve, he and his parents moved from Santiago, Brazil, to a small town in Massachusetts, where his father began working as a Portuguese professor at a university. Accompanied by his parents, Francisco enrolled in a local middle school, where his father …
by Becki Cohn-Vargas and Debbie Zacarian For too long, many children have faced barriers that undermine their sense of safety, belonging, value, and competence, as well as their confidence to speak up for themselves and others. Examples include children who are teased about their race, gender identity, the languages they …
