Students whose primary language is not English (English learners or EL students) may require language supports in order to meaningfully participate in school. Title VI requires that schools, districts, and state education agencies (SEAs) take affirmative steps to address language barriers so that EL students may participate meaningfully in their schools’ educational programs. A district must effectively implement a sound educational approach in its programs for EL students. Title VI also requires schools to adequately communicate with limited English proficient (LEP) parents about important school-related information in languages they can understand. OCR has sought to ensure that limited English proficiency is not an obstacle for students or their LEP parents to access educational opportunities.
Dear Colleague Letters
- U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights and U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Dear Colleague Letter: English Learner Students and Limited English Proficient Parents (January 2015)
- U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights and U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Dear Colleague Letter: School Enrollment Procedures (May 2014)
- كیفیة تقدیم شكوى (Arabic) PDF (269K)
情況說明書
(Trad. Chinese) PDF (230K)
한국어
(Korean) PDF (244K)
En español
(Spanish) PDF (177K)
Tagalog
(Tagalog) PDF (155K)
Việt-ngữ
(Vietnamese) PDF (213K)
- كیفیة تقدیم شكوى (Arabic) PDF (233K)
情況說明書
(Trad. Chinese) PDF (258K)
한국어
(Korean) PDF (385K)
En español
(Spanish) PDF (196K)
Tagalog
(Tagalog) PDF (185K)
Việt-ngữ
(Vietnamese) PDF (313K)
Fact Sheets
- Fact Sheet: Ensuring Educational Opportunities for All Students on Equal Terms 70 Years After Brown v. Board of Education (May 2024) PDF (105K)
- U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights and U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Protecting Access to Education for Migratory Children (June 2023)
- U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights and U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Protecting Access to Education for Unaccompanied Children (June 2023)
- U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, Ensuring Meaningful Participation in Advanced Coursework and Specialized Programs for Students Who Are English Learners (June 2023) PDF (490K)
- U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights and U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Confronting Discrimination Based on National Origin And Immigration Status (August 2021)
- U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights and U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Information for Limited English Proficient (LEP) Parents and Guardians and for Schools and School Districts that Communicate with Them (January 2015)
- كیفیة تقدیم شكوى (Arabic) PDF (150K)
ប្រទេសកម្ពុជា
(Cambodian) PDF (116K)
情况说明书
(Sim. Chinese) PDF (559K)
情況說明書
(Trad. Chinese) PDF (576K)
فارسی
(Dari) PDF (231K)
Hmong
(Hmong) PDF (439K)
한국어
(Korean) PDF (343K)
ຄົນລາວ
(Laotian) PDF (484K)
русский
(Russian) PDF (573K)
En español
(Spanish) PDF (194K)
Tagalog
(Tagalog) PDF (427K)
Việt-ngữ
(Vietnamese) PDF (547K)
- U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights and U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Ensuring English Learner Students Can Participate Meaningfully and Equally in Educational Programs (January 2015)
- كیفیة تقدیم شكوى (Arabic) PDF (216K)
ប្រទេសកម្ពុជា
(Cambodian) PDF (541K)
情况说明书
(Sim. Chinese) PDF (605K)
情況說明書
(Trad. Chinese) PDF (629K)
فارسی
(Dari) PDF (277K)
Hmong
(Hmong) PDF (372K)
한국어
(Korean) PDF (396K)
ຄົນລາວ
(Laotian) PDF (650K)
русский
(Russian) PDF (689K)
En español
(Spanish) PDF (271K)
Tagalog
(Tagalog) PDF (437K)
Việt-ngữ
(Vietnamese) PDF (660K)
- U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights and U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Fact Sheet: Information on the Rights of All Children to Enroll in School (May 2014)
Other Resources:
- Secretary's Letter on English Learner Resources (November 2023)
En español
(Spanish) PDF (220K)
- U.S. Department of Education, Tool Kit: Tools and Resources for Identifying All English Learners PDF (1.3M) (November 2016)
- Policy Update on Schools' Obligations Toward National Origin Minority Students With Limited-English Proficiency (September 1991)
- Language Minority Compliance Procedures (September 1984)
To request language access services or resources, which may include oral technical assistance or written translation of Department information, free of charge, contact OCR@ed.gov. If you need more information about interpretation or translation services, call 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327) (TTY: 1-800-437-0833). To request documents in alternate formats such as Braille or large print, contact the Department at 202-260-0818 or ofo_eeos@ed.gov.
Case Resolutions
- Rochester School District (NH) — (01-15-1252)
- Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (CA) — (09-20-1341)
- Pecatonica Area School District (WI) — (05-21-1074)
- Urban Corps Charter School (CA) — (09-17-1543)
- Easthampton (MA) — (01-15-1189)
- Portland Public Schools (ME) — (01-20-1098)
- Argosy Collegiate Charter School (MA) — (01-20-1238)
- BASIS DC Public Charter School (DC) (11-13-1140)
- Hazleton Area School District (PA) (03-10-5002)
- Read the Press Release
- Read the Resolution Letter Word (234K)
- Read the Resolution Agreement Word (113K)
- Orleans Parish School Board (LA) (06-13-1644)
- Tigard-Tualatin School District 23J (OR) (10-10-5002)
- More Case Resolutions
To access resolution agreements and letters created on or after October 1, 2013 click here.