Ileana Najarro

Tampa

Race and Opportunity Reporter at Education Week

Race/opportunity reporter @educationweek Formerly @TB_Times @HoustonChron. Reach out at [email protected]

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Articles

How Schools Are Reaching Immigrant Families Over Summer

1 week ago | edweek.org | Ileana Najarro

As schools prepare for the summer break, immigration advocates and researchers say it’s more important than ever for schools to continue to serve immigrant students and families, especially as concerns grow over renewed efforts of mass deportation.
Does Speaking Two Languages Hurt Students? Experts Say No

1 week ago | edweek.org | Ileana Najarro

President Donald Trump’s federal budget proposal, announced in early May, calls for the elimination of nearly $900 million in Title III federal funding used by states and districts to support the nation’s 5 million English learners.
Inside the Rare and Rewarding Work of Teaching the Hmong Language

1 week ago | edweek.org | Ileana Najarro

For Choua Lor, a 2nd grade teacher at Vang Pao Elementary in Fresno, Calif., teaching is a calling. But working in the school’s Hmong dual-language immersion program is what she calls her life’s purpose. “You are educating students, but at the same time, you’re doing more than that,” Lor said. “You are helping them identify with their identity.
‘Where Are Your Blind Spots?’: How Schools Can Create a Sense of Belonging

1 week ago | ourcommunitynow.com | Ileana Najarro

Share Belonging is a must have in schools, not a nice to have.
What Happened to Oklahoma's Effort to Count Undocumented Students?

1 week ago | edweek.org | Ileana Najarro

An effort led by Oklahoma’s state superintendent to require parents to provide proof of citizenship when enrolling their children in school failed in the state legislature this month. The administrative rule change, approved by the state’s board of education back in January, marked one of the earliest state-level actions taken to undermine the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Plyler v. Doe case since President Donald Trump’s election win.
‘Where Are Your Blind Spots?’: How Schools Can Create a Sense of Belonging

1 week ago | edweek.org | Ileana Najarro

Belonging is a must have in schools, not a nice to have.
How One District Fought to Get a Family Out of Immigration Detention

2 weeks ago | edweek.org | Ileana Najarro

In March, Jennifer Gaffney, the superintendent of the Sackets Harbor Central school district in upstate New York, found herself advocating for the release of a district family, including young students, from immigration detention. Immigration officers detained the family at a local farm, according to media reports.
Do Teachers' Political Beliefs Shape Outcomes for English Learners?

1 month ago | edweek.org | Ileana Najarro

A February EdWeek Research Center survey asked educators whether they support or oppose federal mandates that guarantee English learners the right to language acquisition support, and undocumented students the right to a free, public education.
How Schools Build Dual-Language Programs for Less Commonly Taught Languages

1 month ago | edweek.org | Ileana Najarro

When Allen Jay Elementary School began its dual-language immersion program in English and Urdu, school officials initially considered translating the curriculum used for the school’s similar program in English and Spanish. But they quickly realized that Urdu was far too distinct a language for the plan to work, said Hina Ashraf, an associate research professor in the Department of Linguistics, Initiative for Multilingual Studies, at Georgetown University.
What States Can Learn from Tennessee’s Fight Over Undocumented Students

1 month ago | edweek.org | Ileana Najarro

Earlier this year, Tennessee legislators introduced three sets of bills that would require K-12 schools to verify students’ immigration status upon enrollment, charge tuition to undocumented students, and, in some cases, even deny these students enrollment. Tennessee became one of at least five states to propose actions since President Donald Trump’s re-election win that defied federal statute requiring compliance with the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Plyler v.