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LTEL CoP

Information about the Long-Term English Learner (LTEL) Community of Practice (CoP).

Overview

The California Department of Education (CDE), Multilingual Support Division (MSD), with support from Sobrato Philanthropies and technical assistance from the Center to Support Excellence in Teaching at the Stanford Graduate School of Education, established a Community of Practice (CoP) in 2023 grounded in the English Learner (EL) Roadmap Policy focused on understanding the research and local data surrounding students identified as Long-Term English Learners (LTELs). LTEL students are students who have been enrolled in a United States school for six years or more but have not yet been reclassified as fluent English proficient.

Timeline and Goals

LTEL CoP participants will collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data to better understand students identified as LTELs and design supports around their specific needs. This work includes expanding definitions of data and examining local data (including LTEL course taking, A–G completion, shadowing, observations, etc.) in novel ways through a design thinking and liberatory design framework. Dr. Laurie Olsen, author of Reparable Harm: Fulfilling the Unkept Promise of Educational Opportunity for California’s Long Term English Learners External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF), will contribute to the CoP planning and will document the CoP’s learnings, process, and recommendations following the conclusion of the CoP.

LTEL CoP Goals:

  • Increase awareness of LTELs and the specific needs of LTELs, including socio emotional, academic, literacy, and language proficiency;
  • Engage in professional learning;
  • Improve data literacy;
  • Use data to identify local problems of practice within systems around LTELs in grades 6–12 and to design local goals with innovative strategies to improve practice; and
  • Encourage innovation by developing and sharing effective secondary EL program models and practices.

LTEL CoP Timeline:

The LTEL CoP will meet over 24 months beginning in spring 2023.

Meeting 1: May 23, 2023, virtual

Meeting 2: October 5, 2023, in-person

Meeting 3: Winter 2024

Meeting 4: Spring 2024

Meeting 5: Spring 2024

Meeting 6: Fall 2024

After the conclusion of the LTEL CoP the CDE will share findings and recommendations statewide in a report that Dr. Laurie Olsen will author. This report will be available under the “resources” tab on this web page in 2025.

The CDE will share additional information and resources developed by the LTEL CoP as relevant throughout the project. These resources will also be available under the “Resources” tab on this web page.

 

Questions:   Multilingual Support Division | MSD@cde.ca.gov | 916-319-0938
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, June 3, 2025
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