cal-logo-no-backgroudn.png

Research to Policy

A Comprehensive Literacy Policy for Multilingual Learners: Research and Practice

by

WEBINAR ANNOUNCEMENT

TITLE: A Comprehensive Literacy Policy for Multilingual Learners: Research and Practice
DATE: September 22, 2026
TIME: 4:00–5:00 p.m. ET

REGISTER

REGISTER

DETAILS:

Literacy is foundational to educational success. In today’s world this includes not only reading but also writing and multimodal communication. For multilingual learners, English literacy development is an enduring challenge as U.S. school systems fail to engage in linguistically and culturally responsive teaching practices and instead fall back on systems and policies designed for fluent and monolingual English speakers. The current movement that promotes specific policies and practices in the name of the “science of reading” unfortunately, is no exception. A recent report from the Center for Applied Linguistics analyzed state policies related to reading reform and found that very few states specifically considered MLs in the legislative efforts.

Join the Center for Applied Linguistics, the Center on English Language Proficiency at the Center for Equity for English Learners, Loyola Marymount University andthe National Committee for Effective Literacy, for a national webinar addressing this gap. In this webinar, we will present a comprehensive framework for literacy for multilingual learners, followed by examples from practitioners who connect the research on and for multilingual learners to reading reform efforts.

The webinar will begin with findings from CAL’s recent research brief, Legislating Literacy Instruction: Where Are Multilingual Learners?, which examined literacy legislation across all 50 states. The analysis found that although most states have enacted literacy legislation, multilingual learners are too often absent or only minimally addressed in state policy, highlighting important opportunities to strengthen literacy legislation and implementation.

Using a multilingual lens and research, presenters will introduce NCEL’s A Comprehensive K–3 Literacy Policy for Multilingual Learners, a framework that reflects decades of research on multilingual learners that helps states, districts, and communities develop, review, and strengthen literacy policies. The framework identifies the instructional practices, enabling conditions, and systems of support necessary to ensure multilingual learners achieve grade-level literacy while advancing English proficiency, home language development, and biliteracy.

The webinar will conclude with a panel featuring state and local perspectives on advancing comprehensive literacy for multilingual learners. Panelists will share how research and advocacy has informed statewide literacy policy in Illinois and how a local education agency (Dodge City, Kansas) has translated research into comprehensive literacy policies and practices that center the strengths and needs of English learners and multilingual learners.

———————————————————————————————————————–

Important Notice on CAL Webinar Content

All webinars, recordings, and related materials produced by the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) are protected by copyright. They are made available exclusively through CAL’s official platforms for educational and informational purposes.

CAL does not authorize the reposting, redistribution, or resale of our webinars on any third-party websites. Any such uploads are unauthorized and may not accurately represent the original content.

To ensure you are accessing the most accurate, complete, and up-to-date info, please view webinars only through CAL’s official website and communication channels.


·   

Promising Practices in Rural ML Education

by

WEBINAR RECORDING

TITLE: Promising Practices in Rural ML Education
DATE: September 2, 2026
TIME: 4:00–4:30 p.m. ET

DETAILS:

Join Dr. Maria Coady, Goodnight Distinguished Professor in Educational Equity at NC State, and Dr. Kia Johnson of the Center for Applied Linguistics for a conversation on supporting English/Multilingual Learners in rural and new destination states. Drawing on research, policy, and practical expertise, we will explore the unique challenges and promising practices shaping these communities across the nation.

RESOURCES:

Snapshot – Promising Practices in Rural ML EducationDownload

———————————————————————————————————————–

Important Notice on CAL Webinar Content

All webinars, recordings, and related materials produced by the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) are protected by copyright. They are made available exclusively through CAL’s official platforms for educational and informational purposes.

CAL does not authorize the reposting, redistribution, or resale of our webinars on any third-party websites. Any such uploads are unauthorized and may not accurately represent the original content.

To ensure you are accessing the most accurate, complete, and up-to-date info, please view webinars only through CAL’s official website and communication channels.


·   

Metaphor, Translanguaging and Praxis: Leveraging all our Tools Forward (in this time of backward slide)

by

WEBINAR RECORDING

TITLE: Metaphor, Translanguaging and Praxis: Leveraging all our Tools Forward (in this Time of Backward Slide)
DATE: August 26, 2026
TIME: 4:00–5:00 p.m. ET

DETAILS:

Drawing on metaphors and real examples from her own and others’ action research in bi/multilingual education, Dr. Palmer began by framing the present moment – touching on the political, the ideological, the organizational, and the pedagogical – and then proposed a set of key strategies to keep our communities and ourselves engaged in powerful, forward-oriented work even as we find ourselves in a state of continuous defense, reaction and outrage.

RESOURCES

Our 2023 co-edited book – the Introduction offers a nice overview of the Actions Toward Critical Consciousness, and it is Open Access (available for download on the publisher’s website)

Dorner, L. M., Palmer, D. K., Cervantes-Soon, C. G., Heiman, D., & Crawford, E. R. (Eds.). (2023). Critical consciousness in dual language bilingual education: Case studies on policy and practice Routledge.

Video summarizing a series of webinars on the Four Actions toward Critical Consciousness, with special focus on raciolinguistic justice in the US Midwest: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MYPlwNRl0hTy9triaw5KA-rK5ULmfCRn

This video was produced out of a project sponsored by the Spencer Foundation:

Dorner, L., Palmer, D., Young, A. & Morita-Mullaney, T. (2022) Building Raciolinguistic Justice in Midwestern Dual Language Programs through Research/Practice Partnerships. Spencer Foundation Conference Grant.

 A recent academic commentary in which I describe the four-headed dragon and propose the idea of Trans-ing:

Palmer, D. (2026). Trans-ing in education to confront polarizing forces in our increasingly interconnected world. The Modern Language Journal, 110(2), 707–712. https://doi.org/10.1111/modl.70056

———————————————————————————————————————–

Important Notice on CAL Webinar Content

All webinars, recordings, and related materials produced by the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) are protected by copyright. They are made available exclusively through CAL’s official platforms for educational and informational purposes.

CAL does not authorize the reposting, redistribution, or resale of our webinars on any third-party websites. Any such uploads are unauthorized and may not accurately represent the original content.

To ensure you are accessing the most accurate, complete, and up-to-date info, please view webinars only through CAL’s official website and communication channels.


·   

Leveling Up: Amplifying Advocacy for Multilingual Students

by

WEBINAR RECORDING

TITLE: Leveling Up: Amplifying Advocacy for Multilingual Students
DATE: August 20, 2026
TIME: 4:00–5:30 p.m. ET

DETAILS:

The webinar examined current efforts to reverse Plyler v. Doe. We aim to provide a space for keynote speakers to help clarify common misconceptions and provide factual information about this landmark court case and how it has benefited immigrant students and multilingual learners. We also offered updates on the most current state and national initiatives aimed at protecting Plyler and ensuring educational access to all students. In addition, we invited panelists to share their experiences and insights from their local advocacy work, contributing to a meaningful conversation on advancing equity for multilingual students.

Our goal is to deepen understanding of advocacy in multilingual education by holding informed conversations that can drive public engagement, influence policy, and support community-centered change. The webinar will open with remarks from Dr. Margarita Machado from NABE, Dr. Suzanne García from AERA BER SIG, and Dr. Diep Nguyen from CAL.

The webinar concluded with a call to action for researchers and scholars to become involved by committing to participate in the “One Advocacy Op Ed from Every Scholar” campaign to inform the public about issues we care about that affect multilingual learners.

RESOURCES:

Leveling Up Advocacy Resources_August 20 2026Download

———————————————————————————————————————–

Important Notice on CAL Webinar Content

All webinars, recordings, and related materials produced by the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) are protected by copyright. They are made available exclusively through CAL’s official platforms for educational and informational purposes.

CAL does not authorize the reposting, redistribution, or resale of our webinars on any third-party websites. Any such uploads are unauthorized and may not accurately represent the original content.

To ensure you are accessing the most accurate, complete, and up-to-date info, please view webinars only through CAL’s official website and communication channels.


·   

Equity in Practice: Affirming Bilingual and Multilingual Learners with Translanguaging Pedagogy and Translingual Literature

by

WEBINAR RECORDING

TITLE: Affirming Bilingual and Multilingual Learners with Translanguaging Pedagogy and Translingual Literature
DATE: July 14, 2026
TIME: 4:00–4:30 p.m. EDT

DETAILS:

Schools are increasingly using mandated monolingual English curriculum with multilingual and multicultural students. These students and their teachers’ experiences and language practices at many intersections can either be affirmed, integrated, and celebrated, or dismissed and ignored. This webinar explored recent research and practices around teacher preparation and curriculum design that is culturally and linguistically responsive and sustaining. Specifically, we centered translanguaging pedagogy, translingual literature, and a district-level initiative that aligns English language arts and home language arts instruction, offering an alternative path forward in language education.

RESOURCES

R2P Webinar_July 14_Resources_FINALDownload


———————————————————————————————————————–

Important Notice on CAL Webinar Content

All webinars, recordings, and related materials produced by the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) are protected by copyright. They are made available exclusively through CAL’s official platforms for educational and informational purposes.

CAL does not authorize the reposting, redistribution, or resale of our webinars on any third-party websites. Any such uploads are unauthorized and may not accurately represent the original content.

To ensure you are accessing the most accurate, complete, and up-to-date info, please view webinars only through CAL’s official website and communication channels.


·   

Supporting the Educators of Multilingual and Multicultural Students

by

WEBINAR RECORDING

TITLE: Supporting the Educators of Multilingual and Multicultural Students
DATE: June 9, 2026
TIME: 4:00–4:30 p.m. EDT

DETAILS:

In this webinar, we presented evidence-based learning structures and content for educators of multilingual learners. We explored how we can support our educators to respond to the constantly changing demands of our times and uphold what works for multilingual learners.

RESOURCES:

R2P Webinar_June 9_Resources_FINALDownload


———————————————————————————————————————–

Important Notice on CAL Webinar Content

All webinars, recordings, and related materials produced by the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) are protected by copyright. They are made available exclusively through CAL’s official platforms for educational and informational purposes.

CAL does not authorize the reposting, redistribution, or resale of our webinars on any third-party websites. Any such uploads are unauthorized and may not accurately represent the original content.

To ensure you are accessing the most accurate, complete, and up-to-date info, please view webinars only through CAL’s official website and communication channels.


·   

Understanding and Advocating for High-Quality Instruction for ELLs with Disabilities

by

WEBINAR RECORDING

TITLE: Understanding and Advocating for High-Quality Instruction for ELLs with Disabilities
DATE: May 12, 2026
TIME: 4:00–4:30 p.m. EDT

DETAILS:

This webinar examined how current policies are shaping access to high-quality instruction for multilingual learners with disabilities. Panelists discussed the integration of support for language development and services for students with disabilities, along with an examination of the current strategies educators are using to navigate evolving requirements and policies. This session explored opportunities to improve the identification of multilingual learners who need special education services and how strengthening collaboration across teams can improve the quality of instruction received by these students. Participants gained insight into practical, forward-looking approaches that can expand access and improve outcomes for students.

RESOURCES:

R2P Webinar Snapshot_May2026_HQInstruction for ELLs with DisabilitiesDownload

———————————————————————————————————————–

Important Notice on CAL Webinar Content

All webinars, recordings, and related materials produced by the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) are protected by copyright. They are made available exclusively through CAL’s official platforms for educational and informational purposes.

CAL does not authorize the reposting, redistribution, or resale of our webinars on any third-party websites. Any such uploads are unauthorized and may not accurately represent the original content.

To ensure you are accessing the most accurate, complete, and up-to-date info, please view webinars only through CAL’s official website and communication channels.


·   

Universal Reading Screening and Multilingual Learners: Demystifying the Process

by

WEBINAR RECORDING

TITLE: Universal Reading Screening and Multilingual Learners: Demystifying the Process
DATE: April 14, 2026
TIME: 4:00–4:30 p.m. EDT

DETAILS:

Universal Screening for reading problems has been mandated across the country, and despite growing populations of multilingual learners, little guidance has been provided about how to maximize accuracy and fairness in testing. The webinar provided information to improve your screening practices by taking language proficiency and the language of instruction into consideration when planning an assessment approach and interpreting results. Myths and frequently asked questions were addressed in a presentation designed to leave you with key actionable and practical takeaways

RESOURCES:

R2P Webinar Snapshot_April 2026Download

———————————————————————————————————————–

Important Notice on CAL Webinar Content

All webinars, recordings, and related materials produced by the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) are protected by copyright. They are made available exclusively through CAL’s official platforms for educational and informational purposes.

CAL does not authorize the reposting, redistribution, or resale of our webinars on any third-party websites. Any such uploads are unauthorized and may not accurately represent the original content.

To ensure you are accessing the most accurate, complete, and up-to-date info, please view webinars only through CAL’s official website and communication channels.


·   

Upholding the Educational Civil Rights of Multilingual Learners and Families

by

WEBINAR RECORDING

TITLE: Upholding the Educational Civil Rights of Multilingual Learners and Families
DATE: March 10, 2026
TIME: 4:00–4:30 p.m. EDT

DETAILS:

States, districts, and schools have a legal and ethical obligation to ensure that all students, regardless of the language(s) they speak at home, have access to meaningful, equitable learning opportunities. Grounded in federal policy and civil rights law, these obligations extend to instructional access, language development supports, family engagement, and nondiscriminatory practices that enable multilingual learners to thrive academically and socially.

In this webinar, policy experts and practitioners will unpack the educational civil rights that protect multilingual learners and their families, clarifying what these rights mean in practice and how they are grounded in existing law and guidance. Participants will also hear directly from a state-level leader about how these civil rights frameworks are being implemented on the ground, highlighting policy levers, practical strategies, and lessons learned that can inform efforts in other contexts.

Join us to deepen your understanding of the civil rights of multilingual learners and the policies, practices, and partnerships essential to upholding them across educational systems.

RESOURCES

R2P Webinar SnapshotDownload

———————————————————————————————————————–

Important Notice on CAL Webinar Content

All webinars, recordings, and related materials produced by the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) are protected by copyright. They are made available exclusively through CAL’s official platforms for educational and informational purposes.

CAL does not authorize the reposting, redistribution, or resale of our webinars on any third-party websites. Any such uploads are unauthorized and may not accurately represent the original content.

To ensure you are accessing the most accurate, complete, and up-to-date info, please view webinars only through CAL’s official website and communication channels.


·   

Effective Instruction for Biliteracy Development of Emergent Bilingual Students (EBs)

by

WEBINAR RECORDING

TITLE: Effective Instruction for Biliteracy Development of Emergent Bilingual Students (EBs)
DATE: December 9, 2025
TIME: 4:00–4:30 p.m. EDT

DETAILS:

In this session Dr. Danling Fu shares her perspectives of key principles of effective instruction for biliteracy development of emergent bilingual students, with a focus on writing development. Based on over three decades of working with teachers and students, she highlights student-centered curriculum, the role of home language and translanguaging practice, and respect for the culture, language, and literacy experience that emergent bilinguals bring into our classrooms. Participants can gain insight into the intersections of research, policy, and practice, and explore what it takes to provide effective writing instruction for emergent bilingual students to develop their bilingual and biliteracy competence.

———————————————————————————————————————–

Important Notice on CAL Webinar Content

All webinars, recordings, and related materials produced by the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) are protected by copyright. They are made available exclusively through CAL’s official platforms for educational and informational purposes.

CAL does not authorize the reposting, redistribution, or resale of our webinars on any third-party websites. Any such uploads are unauthorized and may not accurately represent the original content.

To ensure you are accessing the most accurate, complete, and up-to-date info, please view webinars only through CAL’s official website and communication channels.


·   

Youtube Facebook Linkedin Twitter Instagram

Powered by World Data Inc.