EL Update
March 5th, 2026
Updates
- Article - Navigating conversations with children about war, conflict and other traumatic events
- GRPL discontinuing Hot Spot Lending Library
- May 11th - Tentative date for EL Program Evaluation Work Session at Kent ISD
New Resource
- Safety in Storytelling: A How To Guide from Leaders with Lived Experience - provides tips on deciding what, when, and if to share stories from your lived experiences
- New NCELA Fact Sheet - Top Languages of English Learners
- Opportunity - The Grand Rapids Red Project is offering to install and partner with locations across the county who would be interested in hosting a refurbished newspaper box that would be filled with Narcan and other life saving items to prevent overdoses info@redproject.org
- Latest immigration update from USAHello
WIDA
- New - WIDA PD Offerings survey - tell WIDA what you would like to see them offer in the future
- 25/26 List of Important Dates available now
- WIDA Access window Jan. 26th - April 3rd
Resources & Events
May 6th - MABE Pre-Conferences - register here
May 15th - Building Better Writers with author Natalia Heckman, Muskegon ISD CTC Campus, $130/person (includes lunch and book), 8am - 3pm, registration link
MEAP Utility Assistance for households or call 616-929-1640
- Database of Colleges that offer Child Care to support student parents
Adulting 101 - free virtual series on topics like Informed Renter, Roadmap to a Smart Used Car Purchase, The Realities of Animal Care, and more - click for more information
June 23rd - Talk Read Talk Write - Kent ISD Service Area Educators along with a few additional districts / schools can register now, registration will open to all closer to the event, $0 registration and participants are eligible to receive a $125 stipend for attending
June 24th - ¡Toma la palabra! - Kent ISD Service Area Educators in districts / schools with immersion, dual language, or bilingual programs can register now, registration will open to all closer to event, $0 registration and participants are eligible to receive a $125 stipend for attending
July 22nd & 23rd - ML Summit in Livonia, register here
- NEW – English Learner Requirements (with citations)
25/26 Resources
- 25/26 EL Timeline
- NEW Kindergarten Flow Chart
- NEW Administrator's Guide for English Learners
- Updated Statewide EL Professional Learning calendar - includes webinars for EL Program Eval focus Indicator 18 and new False EL process
- Comprehensive High School Experience evaluation - bit.ly/HighSchoolEval
- Updated – An Undocumented Student’s Guide to College (and FAFSA) in Michigan
- Presentation – Supporting Students Separated from Parents Due to Deportation
- NEW from MDE A Resource for Local Education Agencies and Schools Supporting Students Separated from Parents or Legal Guardians Due to Deportation Proceedings
- NEW Resource - Know Your Rights: Five Things Parents Detained by ICE Should Know
- Kent ISD Guidance on using an Affidavit instead of copying / keeping birth certificates or identity documents during enrollment