Students classified as English Learners (EL) are about to face another unprecedented school year. They are among the student groups most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic—touched by the digital divide, hindered by reduced opportunities to engage in core content, and isolated from support services they depend upon. Yet these resilient students can rebound with the right support and assistance from the schools they depend on.

The National Charter School Resource Center (NCSRC)’s English Learner Modules help charter schools reflect upon how they are transitioning EL students back to in-person learning. Combined with English Learners in Charter Schools: A Learning Experience Focused on English Learner Instruction – Part 1, this resource offers expert advice and ground-level guidance to help English Learners flourish academically through rigorous in-person instruction, supportive learning environments, and ongoing family engagement. It concludes with two podcasts that share tips and ideas from schools experiencing notable academic gains with the EL students.

The two podcast episodes feature staff members from Uplift Education and Family Life Academy Charter Schools discussing their EL programs—from how they support their teachers to how they engage with EL families. The podcasts are facilitated by Stephanie Jones, supervisor of the U.S. Department of Education Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grants to Charter Management Organizations for the Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools (CMO Grants) and CSP Grants to Charter School Developers for the Opening of New Charter Schools and for the Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools (Developer Grants).

Module #1 – Transitioning Back to In-Person Learning

Module #2 – Setting Up Processes and Systems to Serve English Learners in Charter Schools

Module #3 – Family Engagement – From Recruitment to Ongoing Engagement