Advocacy

Comment TODAY to Support ELs in Head Start!

Lindsay Eanet2026-08-25T10:17:46-05:00

New proposed federal rules on Head Start would weaken the quality and standards of early childhood programs across the country, with a particularly adverse impact on multilingual learners. These proposed rules would require Head Start to conduct all programming and create all materials in English rather than meeting the linguistic and cultural needs of specific communities, and reduce capacity for and potentially eliminate positions related to bilingual education. We agree with our friends at NABE that English development and multilingualism can—and should—coexist. Review NABE's Position on Federal Head Start Rule Changes View IHSA's Presentation on the proposed rules [...]

Comment TODAY to Support ELs in Head Start!Lindsay Eanet2026-08-25T10:17:46-05:00

IRC Recognized in Partnership for Resilience Year in Review
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IRC Recognized in Partnership for Resilience Year in Review

Lindsay Eanet2026-08-12T15:19:52-05:00

Building a state where our schools and institutions care for, affirm and uplift all students is a group project. At the Illinois Resource Center, we are proud to constantly partner and collaborate with mission-aligned organizations across the state and beyond like the Partnership for Resilience, which works to "improve the academic, health, and social outcomes for children by fostering trauma-responsive schools alongside effective family, school, health, and community partnerships." Earlier this year, IRC Specialist Adelicia Brienzo worked alongside Crissy Mombela from the Partnership for Resilience on a series of trauma-informed visioning sessions for Blossoms Early Learning Center in Sauk Village School [...]

IRC Recognized in Partnership for Resilience Year in ReviewLindsay Eanet2026-08-12T15:19:52-05:00

August Roundup: Readings and Resources for Educators
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August Roundup: Readings and Resources for Educators

Lindsay Eanet2026-07-22T11:51:34-05:00

Welcome to the August 2026 edition of the Resource Roundup, a monthly newsletter from the IRC, packed with readings, recommendations and resources you can use in your classroom or school community. If you have a resource you think would be valuable to share for this round-up, please email Lindsay Eanet at leanet@cntrmail.org with a link. Supporting & Advocating for Immigrant Students At the IRC, we pledge to continue to supporting and empowering educators, school administrators and families in advocating for, protecting and uplifting students from immigrant backgrounds, and working towards our vision of an educational future where all students’ languages and cultures are affirmed [...]

August Roundup: Readings and Resources for EducatorsLindsay Eanet2026-07-22T11:51:34-05:00

April is National Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month 2026
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April is National Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month 2026

Lindsay Eanet2026-03-31T12:32:18-05:00

In April and every day, we #LoveOurLanguages! In honor of Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month, the IRC is once again celebrating with a month-long campaign, focused on growing multilingual communities. To every educator, parent, administrator, school staff member and student who is a multilingual champion in your community, we say THANK YOU! Throughout this month, we will share this jam-packed calendar of resources and ideas to celebrate and advocate for multilingual students in your school and community. Our team has compiled a calendar filled with readings, advocacy templates, book lists and more to use and share throughout the month. Together, we can [...]

April is National Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month 2026Lindsay Eanet2026-03-31T12:32:18-05:00

March Roundup: Readings and Resources for Educators
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March Roundup: Readings and Resources for Educators

Lindsay Eanet2026-02-17T15:38:06-06:00

Dear Friends, Welcome to the March 2026 edition of the Resource Roundup, a monthly newsletter from the IRC, packed with readings, recommendations and resources you can use in your classroom or school community. If you have a resource you think would be valuable to share for this round-up, please email Lindsay Eanet at leanet@cntrmail.org with a link. Supporting & Advocating for Immigrant Students At the IRC, we pledge to continue to supporting and empowering educators, school administrators and families in advocating for, protecting and uplifting students from immigrant backgrounds, and working towards our vision of an educational future where all students’ languages and cultures [...]

March Roundup: Readings and Resources for EducatorsLindsay Eanet2026-02-17T15:38:06-06:00

Building an Internationally-Recognized Language Program From the Ground Up
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Building an Internationally-Recognized Language Program From the Ground Up

Lindsay Eanet2026-01-26T12:29:39-06:00

At first, Raquel Kim wasn’t sure why the ambassador wanted to meet with her. But the Embassy of Mongolia wanted Kim, the Assistant Superintendent for Multilingual Services for Glenview School District 34, and her team to share the lessons learned supporting Mongolian-language education and programming for families. And that’s just what they did this past October, convening with Mongolian language educators from all over the world. “It was surreal for sure,” Kim says. “I understand the efforts that we’ve made and believe other school districts have made an impact on establishing the home language and that bilingual support. It was an [...]

Building an Internationally-Recognized Language Program From the Ground UpLindsay Eanet2026-01-26T12:29:39-06:00

October Roundup: Readings and Resources for Educators
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October Roundup: Readings and Resources for Educators

Lindsay Eanet2025-09-24T12:48:39-05:00

Dear Friends, Welcome to the October edition of the Resource Roundup, a monthly newsletter from the IRC, packed with readings, recommendations and resources you can use in your classroom or school community. If you have a resource you think would be valuable to share for this round-up, please email Lindsay Eanet at leanet@cntrmail.org with a link. Supporting & Advocating for Immigrant Students At the IRC, we pledge to continue to supporting and empowering educators, school administrators and families in advocating for, protecting and uplifting students from immigrant backgrounds, and working towards our vision of an educational future where all students’ languages and cultures are [...]

October Roundup: Readings and Resources for EducatorsLindsay Eanet2025-09-24T12:48:39-05:00

Parent & Community Leader Spotlight: Jeonghye Bae, Glenbrook District 225

Lindsay Eanet2025-09-09T10:30:38-05:00

Over the past few months, the IRC has been highlighting teachers working with multicultural, multilingual students who are going above and beyond. This is part of our companion series celebrating parent and community leaders who are advocating for multilingual students. Meet Jeonghye Bae, a parent and BPAC leader from Glenbrook High School District 225. When she first arrived in the United States, Jeonghye Bae experienced what many newcomers have shared — the adjustment to learning about an unfamiliar school system. She wanted to learn little by little, and chose to learn hands-on by getting involved in the school’s BPAC. Over time, Bae became [...]

Parent & Community Leader Spotlight: Jeonghye Bae, Glenbrook District 225Lindsay Eanet2025-09-09T10:30:38-05:00

September Roundup: Readings & Resources for Educators
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September Roundup: Readings & Resources for Educators

Lindsay Eanet2025-08-25T16:09:57-05:00

Dear Friends, Welcome to the September edition of the Resource Roundup, a monthly newsletter from the IRC, packed with readings, recommendations and resources you can use in your classroom or school community. If you have a resource you think would be valuable to share for this round-up, please email Lindsay Eanet at leanet@cntrmail.org with a link. Supporting & Advocating for Immigrant Students At the IRC, we pledge to continue to supporting and empowering educators, school administrators and families in advocating for, protecting and uplifting students from immigrant backgrounds, and working towards our vision of an educational future where all students’ languages and cultures [...]

September Roundup: Readings & Resources for EducatorsLindsay Eanet2025-08-25T16:09:57-05:00

Vote for Our CSEL Team to Present at SXSWEdu 2026!

Lindsay Eanet2025-08-06T09:15:08-05:00

We're packing our bags & going to Austin... but we need your help to get there! Our Computer Science for Every Learner team has submitted a proposal to present at SXSW Edu, the South By Southwest Education Conference. Our panel, "English Learners and the Future of Work in an AI-Powered Economy," features IRC Director of Strategic Partnerships Silvia V. Rogel alongside State Senator Omar Aquino and partners from BootUp Professional Development and NYC Public Schools. This panel will explore how cross-sector partnerships—spanning classrooms, communities, and government—can align learning and policy to position ELs as future-ready leaders, driving equity, innovation, and long-term [...]

Vote for Our CSEL Team to Present at SXSWEdu 2026!Lindsay Eanet2025-08-06T09:15:08-05:00