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Updates from the Oregon Department of Education
2. You Are Invited to Join the Oregon Multilingual Learner Collaborative!
3. Early Proficient Guidance Published
4. 2024-25 ELPA Standards Report Available
5. ELPA Informational Webinar August Slides and Q&A Posted
6. Minor Update to ELPA Screener Administration Manual
7. Seal of Biliteracy Scheduled Release Coming Soon
News and Resources for Multilingual and Migrant Education
2. Resource: Latine History in Oregon —A Curriculum That Brings Untold Stories to Life
3. Article: How Federal Immigration Policies Affect Students and Schools
Upcoming Events, Training & Conference Opportunities
1. ML/ELOP Calendar Events for 2025-26
1. Invitation to participate in the ODE English Learner Advisory Group
The ODE EL Advisory Group is a diverse group of community and district stakeholders and an important part of Oregon Department of Education’s (ODE) decision-making process and effective implementation of the Multilingual Learner Strategic Plan. This group is comprised of district and school administration, teachers, students, parents, and community members.
The Multilingual & Migrant Education Team is inviting interested individuals to apply to participate in this advisory group for the term of two years including the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic calendar years. For detailed information on the scope of work of the EL Advisory Group and member responsibilities please review the ODE English Learner Advisory Group Charter.
We are looking for student representatives so please share with student leadership groups as you see fit.
Please submit an EL Advisory Appilcation if you are interested in participating and you may direct any questions to Jennifer Fontana, Multilingual Education Specialist.
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2. You Are Invited to Join the Oregon Multilingual Learner Collaborative!
The Oregon Multilingual Collaborative is a collaborative of professional educators, administrators, higher education and education partners who have a vested interest in elevating outcomes for multilingual learners through high-quality instructional programs and practices. Participants will learn from one another, with one another and share resources that advance the success of multilingual learners.
Each month the ML Collaborative will meet and address a problem of practice identified from feedback from the field related to issues faced in the world of education for multilingual learners. Click here to register and explore the flyer for more information.
Meeting dates for the 2025-26 academic year are the first Wednesday of the month from 1:00-2:30 PM.
- October 1, 2025
- November 5, 2025
- December 3, 2025
- January 7, 2026
- February 4, 2026
- March 4, 2026
- April 1, 2026
- May 6, 2026
- June 3, 2026
Please use the Oregon Multilingual Learner Collaborative Form to share ideas on problems of practice you’d like to see addressed by the ML Collaborative.
Contact Jennifer Fontana, Multilingual Education Specialist with questions.
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3. Early Proficient Guidance Published
In 2025-26, a new scoring category called Early Proficient will become available on the general ELPA Summative (not the ELPA Screener or the Alt ELPA). Early Proficient requires district action. Relevant district personnel must therefore read the Early Proficient guidance to prepare for the 25-26 testing season. Early Proficient resources are found in the Guidance and Assessment accordions on the English Language Proficiency Assessment page and include:
Contact Ben Wolcott, ELPA Specialist, with questions about ELPA testing.
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The English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) Standards Report now includes data from the 2024-25 testing season. As a reminder, the ELPA Standards Report provides a different way to look at past and future ELPA Summative data, organizing it by standard as well as domain. This report is housed in ODE’s Achievement Data Insight (ADI) application, under the label “ELP standards validation”. It can be retrieved only by district personnel with ADI permissions.
Contact Ben Wolcott, ELPA Specialist, with questions or concerns.
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Materials for the August sessions of the optional English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) Informational Webinar have been posted in the Resources accordion on the English Language Proficiency Assessment page.
Please contact Ben Wolcott, ELPA Specialist, with questions regarding ELPA testing.
6. Minor Update to ELPA Screener Administration Manual
The ELPA Screener Administration Manual has been updated with the following information:
More specific instructions as to what districts must do upon receiving a Not Attempted score
Clarification that student notes can be securely retained across test sessions (but must still be securely destroyed at the end of the test)
Contact Ben Wolcott, ELPA Specialist, with questions.
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7. Seal of Biliteracy Scheduled Release Coming Soon
The Oregon Department of Education will begin processing pending Oregon State Seal of Biliteracy/Multiliteracy (OSSB/M) awards on the first working day after September 15. Any OSSB/M requests submitted after September 15 will be processed during the November scheduled release.
ODE will notify submitters of any errors that prevent processing. Submitters will have the opportunity to correct their submission.
For more information, consult the OSSB/M Manual.
The Fair Housing Council of Oregon invites readers to discover a compelling piece of history in their article, Helping Hands: The History of Braceros in Oregon. This insightful read highlights the vital role Mexican laborers played in shaping Oregon’s agricultural economy through the Bracero Program. With rich historical context and human stories, the article connects past labor movements to present-day housing and equity issues. A must-read for advocates, educators, and anyone interested in the intersection of immigration, labor, and social justice
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The Latine History in Oregon curriculum offers students a powerful journey through time from early Spanish exploration to the voices of Latine youth shaping today’s Oregon. Designed for middle and high school classrooms, this resource dives into themes like labor, migration, civil rights, and activism. Using primary sources, oral histories, and case studies, students gain a deeper understanding of how Latine communities have influenced Oregon’s history and continue to shape its future.
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3. Article: How Federal Immigration Policies Affect Students and Schools
When immigration enforcement reaches the schoolhouse gate, what protections do students have? In their newly released report, Sensitive Locations: How Federal Immigration Policies Affect Students and Schools, Indira Dammu and Hailly T.N. Korman explore the impact of federal immigration policies on students and schools. Published by Bellwether on August 20, 2025, the article highlights essential legal protections for immigrant children and provides actionable strategies for fostering safe, inclusive learning environments.
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1. ML/ELOP Calendar Events for 2025-26
The ML/ELOP Calendar of Events for 2025-26 shared Google calendar of events includes all currently planned trainings, office hours, and other program specific activities for the 2025-26 school year. Please note that the calendar is subject to change depending on programmatic needs.
Additionally, the ML Contact List for 2025-26 has been moved to a Smartsheet form. If you are supporting ML English learners in your work and want to be kept apprised of upcoming events, please complete the ML/EL Contact List Smartsheet form. You may select communication preferences (e.g., data, budgetary, or all) to ensure you receive relevant information.
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2. Free Civil Rights Webinar Series – Open to All, September 2025-May 2026
The Civil Rights Unit at the Oregon Department of Education is offering a free webinar series open to parents, educators, district staff, and community members. Topics include Oregon nondiscrimination law, Every Student Belongs, Title VI, and more. This is a great opportunity to deepen understanding and support equity in education. Click here to view webinar dates and details.
3. Webinar: Dual Language Learner Literacy Development in Early Childhood Education and the Science of Reading, September, 17,2025
Join the Center for Applied Linguistics on September 17, 2025, at 1:00 PM for a panel discussion on Dual Language Learner Literacy in Early Childhood and the Science of Reading. Experts will share research-based, culturally responsive strategies to support bilingualism and early literacy. Click here to register.
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4. Training: CAL SIOP for Dual Language Programs: Developing Academic Language and Content in Two Languages, September 22-25 and 29-30, 2025
Ready to elevate dual language instruction? Join the CAL SIOP Institute for Dual Language Programs from September 22–25 and 29–30, 2025, and discover proven strategies to boost academic language and content learning in two languages. Designed for educators, coaches, and leaders, this hands-on institute will help you create powerful, inclusive classrooms for bilingual learners. Click here to learn more and register.
5. Webinar: MEP & The US Fishing Industry, September 23, 2025
On September 23, 2025, the Identification & Recruitment Consortium will host an information session on the U.S. fishing industry, an expansive sector that includes commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishing, supporting over 1.5 million jobs and contributing billions to the national economy. The session will also share new resources and highlight which workers may be eligible under Title I, Part C. Click here to register for this training.
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Now in its third year, the Educational Interpreters & Translators of Oregon Conference offers high-quality professional development for school district staff who support communication with multilingual families. This year’s full-day event in Happy Valley includes keynotes and breakout sessions on cultural brokering, ethics, language learning strategies, and more featuring guest speakers from ODE, UO, and author Olivia Abtahi. Open to all experience levels, registration is just $150. Click here to register.
7. Conference: Fall Dual Language Institute — Words to Worlds, October 24-25,2025
Join the Washington Association for Bilingual Education (WABE) on October 24–25, 2025, at the Tacoma Convention Center for the Fall Dual Language Institute, featuring keynote speakers Dr. Sonia Soltero and Dr. Kristin Percy Calaff. This two-day event offers inspiring workshops and engaging discussions focused on dual language education. Registration is $175 for a single day or $275 for both days. Click here to register.
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8. Planning Underway for 2026 National Migrant Education Conference
NASDME has confirmed that the 2026 National Migrant Education Conference will take place in Spring 2026, with dates tentatively set for late April through early May. Final details, including location and registration, will be announced soon. For budgeting purposes, the registration fee is expected to be close to the 2025 rate of $450. Stay tuned for more details!
If you have content or stories you’d like featured in our newsletter, we want to hear from you! Whether it’s an article, event, or an inspiring story, your contributions add depth to our discussions. Please send your submissions and ideas to Estephany Membreno, Administrative Specialist, and you may see your content in an upcoming publication.
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For questions or assistance, the Multilingual and Migrant (MME) team is available to support you. Please contact us via email for further information.
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Hector Aguirre, Migrant Education Title IC Specialist
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Diego Contreras-Medrano, Research Analyst
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Jennifer Fontana, Multilingual Education Specialist
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Kelly Kalkofen, English Learner Outcomes Program Education Specialist
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Yuliana Kenfield, Migrant Education Title IC Specialist
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Mary Martinez-Wenzl, Director of Multilingual & Migrant Education Team
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Estephany Membreño, Administrative Specialist II
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Kim Miller, Title III Education Specialist
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Reza Norouzian, Multilingual Education Research Analyst
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Natalia Piar, Multilingual & Migrant Education Team Coordinator
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Baeli Smith, English Learner Outcomes Program Education Specialist
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You were added to this newsletter if you are part of the Migrant Education Program and/or the Title III English Learner listserv. Migrant Ed and Title III leaders, staff, and interested members of the public may subscribe to this newsletter through ODE's QuickSubscribe portal at any time. We thank you for serving Oregon's multilingual and migrant students.
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