English Learner Educator Connect: Monday, Oct. 19, 2026

Oct. 19, 2026

Register Now: Virtual Kentucky English Learner Leadership Summit

Join colleagues from across the Commonwealth for the Winter Virtual Kentucky English Learner Leadership Summit on Tuesday, Dec. 1, and Tuesday, Dec. 8.

Each morning (10-11:30 a.m. ET/9-10:30 a.m. CT) and afternoon (2-3:30 p.m. ET/1-2:30 p.m. CT) session will explore a current problem of practice related to English learners (ELs) and feature educators from around Kentucky sharing strategies, successes and lessons learned from their local work.

Attend any or all sessions to connect, collaborate and learn with fellow EL leaders. A detailed agenda and session access information will be shared with registered participants closer to the summit dates.

Register for the Virtual Kentucky English Learner Leadership Summit

Important Dates

Oct. 19: Immigrant data and WIDA ACCESS Pre-Code extracted from Infinite Campus

Oct. 22: “Nurturing Speaking Growth” (WIDA’s virtual webinar, part two)

Oct. 28: “Empowering Every Reader”: Voices from the Field

Nov. 1: EL data verification in Infinite Campus

Nov. 14: KyTESOL Conference in Lexington, Ky.

Nov. 10 and 17: “Expanding Reading Instruction with Multilingual Learners” (WIDA’s virtual webinar)

Quick Links

Find key EL program information, timelines, newsletter archives and support documents on the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Title III – English Learner and Immigrant Student website.

Explore tools and resources to support EL program implementation on KDE’s English Learner and Immigrant Resources website.

Visit KDE’s WIDA ACCESS website for training videos, resources and important WIDA links.

October Voices from the Field

Voices from the Field continues the virtual learning series highlighting instructional strategies and promising practices that support EL success. Join the Fayette County Public Schools Multilingual Learner (ML) Instructional Coaching Team for “Empowering Every Reader: Breaking Barriers and Equipping Diverse Learners to Conquer Complex Texts,” an interactive presentation and Q&A session exploring practical strategies to make complex texts more accessible and comprehensible for ELs at varying levels of language proficiency. Participants will leave with ideas and approaches they can apply immediately to support students' engagement with grade-level content.

Session Time and Registration Link

Oct. 28: 10-11 a.m. ET, 9-10 a.m. CT

Congratulations, Russell Cave Elementary!

Congratulations to Fayette County Public Schools ML teachers Andrea Lucas, Austin Birdkidd and Kelcie Hardy of Russell Cave Elementary School for being recognized as a Best Practice Winner at the 2026 Kentucky Continuous Improvement Summit.

Their session, “Better Together: Maximizing Success for Multilingual Learners Through Co-Teaching,” highlighted the impact of collaborative practices that support ELs and foster student success.

Thank you for your dedication to collaborating and for sharing the innovative work taking place at Russell Cave Elementary. Your willingness to share your success and lessons learned helps advance effective practices across Kentucky.

Recordings from Previous Session

Catch the recording of last month’s Voices from the Field session, featuring Daviess County Schools. In this spotlight, multilingual learner (ML) instructional coaches Christina King and Kailey Leibering shared how they intentionally plan vocabulary strategies in content instruction that boost reading comprehension and student engagement.

Explore the team's Voices from the Field vocabulary strategies resource document to access the presentation slides and see practical examples you can apply in your own district.

2026 KYTESOL Conference Approaching

Join educators from across Kentucky at the 2026 KYTESOL Conference, Saturday, Nov. 14, at Bluegrass Community & Technical College's Newtown Campus in Lexington. This year's theme, “Rooted in Kentucky: Fostering Learner Community & Success,” will bring together educators, advocates and community partners serving ELs across K-12, adult education, higher education and community settings. The conference offers a valuable opportunity to learn, collaborate and share effective practices that support student success. Register for the conference on the KyTESOL website.

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