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Home How We Help English Learners and Migrant Education Services

English Learners and Migrant Education Services

Fostering Student Success Through Research-Informed Teaching, Leadership Development, and Systems Support

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We partner with schools, districts, and states to strengthen language and literacy opportunities for English Learners, out-of-school youth, and migratory learners–students who bring enriched experiences and perspectives to their classrooms and communities.

With a particular focus on facilitating language and literacy development, WestEd builds educator capacity and promote access to rigorous learning opportunities. 

Through our partnerships, we strengthen educator expertise and system capacity to support student success through collaborative, research-based professional learning, technical assistance, leadership development and coaching, curriculum design and support, program reviews, and data and research. 

Throughout all of our work, we seek to apply evidence to strengthen programs and systemic supports for all students.

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The success we’ve had in meeting the needs of our English Learners and families is a direct reflection of the support and guidance we’ve received from our WestEd partners. Thank you for helping us change student expectations and lives.

— Brian Lemos
Director of Instruction and
ELD Greeley-Evans Weld County School District 6

Our Capacities

Our professional development helps K–12 educators of all disciplines create rigorous and practical classroom learning experiences that benefit all learners, with intentional supports for Multilingual Learners.

Featured Service

Quality Teaching for English Learners Professional Development

QTEL offers research-informed approaches to program design and instructional experiences that teach the conceptual understanding, academic practices, and language that are critical to ensuring success for English Learners. 

Featured Service

Supporting Multilingual Learners With Disabilities 

We design professional learning and coaching experiences to support practitioners in identifying when an educator should begin the complex process of determining whether a Multilingual Learner has a disability. 

We build organizational capacity to plan and implement strong policies, programs, and practices that support student success. 

Featured Project

Migrant Student Information Network (MSIN)

A central student information system for California’s migratory student population, MSIN supports schools by providing academic, social, and health services to children of migrant families statewide. 

Featured Project

Data Coaching to Understand Long-Term English Learner Trends 

To reduce the number of long-term English Learners, WestEd offers hands-on coaching to help districts organize and analyze longitudinal data and uncover patterns that can shape improved outcomes. 

WestEd develops and enhances curricula to support academically rigorous and relevant instruction that ensures all students can access grade-level instruction regardless of language proficiency. 

Featured Project

Accelerating Mathematics Participation

RAMP-UP is a 3-week summer bridge program for rising 9th grade students that explores crosscutting concepts in mathematics and provides students classified as Long-Term English Learners with opportunities to accelerate their achievement.  

Featured Project

Materials Development 

Using the Quality Teaching for English Learners (QTEL) framework, WestEd works with school districts to develop tailor-made, standards-based curricular units and lessons that foster language and literacy development for K–12 English Learners in specific disciplinary contexts.  

We conduct research and evaluation studies that examine the implementation and outcomes of state and district policies and the impacts of programs and interventions on student outcomes. 

Featured Center

National Research and Development Center to Improve Education for Secondary English Learners 

The Center conducts studies aimed at bridging English Learner research and practice bidirectionally and provides compelling and actionable information to improve opportunities. 

Featured Resource

Translating Opportunity: Improving Postsecondary Pathways for Multilingual Learners of English 

This report intends to increase understanding of postsecondary pathways for Multilingual Learners of English and addresses the challenges they encounter by investigating the policies, program structures, and practices that impact their postsecondary experiences. 

Ready to improve learning opportunities for English Learners and migratory students? Connect with a WestEd Expert. 

Connect with our WestEd experts. 

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Featured Services and Projects

Quality Teaching for English Learners Professional Development

QTEL offers research-informed approaches for teaching the conceptual understanding, academic practices, and language that are critical to ensuring success for English Learners.
Service

Migrant Student Information Network (MSIN)

MSIN serves as a central student information system for California's migratory student population.
Project

Supporting Multilingual Learners With Disabilities 

We design professional learning and coaching experiences to support practitioners in identifying when an educator should begin the complex process of determining whether a multilingual learner has a disability.
Service

National Research and Development Center to Improve Education for Secondary English Learners

The Center conducts studies aimed at bridging English Learner research and practice bidirectionally and provides compelling and actionable information to improve opportunities.
Center

Research–Practice Partnerships 

Research–Practice Partnerships (RPPs) are intentional, collaborative relationships between state and local education agencies and researchers that use data and evidence to generate tailored strategies to address pressing educational needs.
Service
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Insights & Impact

Education leaders having a discussion

BlogArticles

Turning Research Into Results: WestEd Experts Share Insights on Educational Excellence 

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BlogArticles

2025’s Most Viewed Webinars for Education Leaders 

A group of people discussing in a circle

BlogArticles

How Teacher Collaboration Transforms Learning for English Learners 

Literacy at WestEd Blog Series - Amanda Nabor, Annette Gregg, Lyn Westergard

BlogArticles

Supporting Multilingual Learners in Disciplinary Literacy

Summer 2025 Professional Learning: Unlock Opportunity, Transform Learning, and Improve Outcomes

BlogArticles

Engage, Inspire, and Support: QTEL Summer Institutes for Educators of English Learners, Including Newcomer Students | Q&A With Lee Hartman 

BlogArticles

Quality Interactions Are Crucial, Especially for Those Learning English

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Resources

Browse our high-quality publications and resources designed to inform and engage professionals in a variety of fields including K–12 education, early childhood, and health and justice.

BTS Collections Page

Building a Brighter Future: WestEd Resource Collection for Thriving Learners, Empowered Communities
Promoting Ambitious Math Learning for English Learners

Promoting Ambitious Math Learning for English Learners
Literacy at WestEd: WestEd's Leading Together 30-Minute Webinar Series: Literacy Practices That Support Multilingual Student Success Across Content Areas

Literacy Practices That Support Multilingual Student Success Across Content Areas
Multilingual Learners Math Perspectives

Realizing Multilingual Learners’ Immense Promise in Mathematics: Policies That Enable Ambitious Practice
Amplifying the Curriculum

Amplifying the Curriculum: Designing Quality Learning Opportunities for Multilingual Learners (Second Edition)
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Featured Experts

Photo of Aida Walqui

Aída Walqui 

For the past 5 decades, Aída Walqui has dedicated her professional life to improving the expertise of teachers and educational leaders, with a focus...
Expert
Annette Gregg

Annette Gregg

As Senior Director, English Learners, Gregg oversees a comprehensive portfolio of initiatives, including research, technical assistance, and professional learning projects aimed at supporting PK–12 educators and migrant education professionals nationwide. 
Expert
Photo of Deb Benetiz

Debra Benitez

Debra Benitez has engaged in education reform, systems change, and organizational development practices for the majority of her career. Her responsibilities include creating and...
Expert
Haiwen Chu headshot

Haiwen Chu

Haiwen Chu is a national expert on mathematics education for English Learners. Chu’s work connects theory, research, and practice to improve learning opportunities and...
Expert
Molly Faulkner-Bond

Molly Faulkner-Bond

Molly Faulkner-Bond is a national leader in policies, programs, and research for multilingual learners. Her work is driven by a commitment to elevating the...
Expert
Mary Schmida

Mary Schmida

Mary Schmida is a national expert in the teaching and learning of multilingual learners at the secondary level. As a Senior Research Associate II...
Expert

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