One fifth of school children have at least one foreign-born parent. Soon, more than 30 percent of all students will come from homes where English is not the primary language. Linguistic diversity is not unique to New York City, Los Angeles, or other very large school districts in traditional gateway cities. The public schools of Rochester, New York, for example, serve students from 35 language groups. Students in Rochester, Minnesota, collectively speak 65 foreign languages.

Children, families, and communities with international roots bring important strengths to schools, but they may be isolated from resources and networks that other Americans take for granted. Whether these families settle disproportionately in neighborhoods with other poor families or in new immigrant communities, already overwhelmed, underresourced, or ill-prepared schools may be unable to respond.

So far, the evidence suggests a mixed track record for America's schools and large differences among immigrant groups. With the fate of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) before Congress—and the future of the nation's economy and children uncertain—join us for a panel discussion of how education reforms and the experiences of students learning English intersect, and what this means for the children's policy arena.

Panelists

Clemencia Cosentino, acting director, Program for Evaluation and Equity Research, Urban Institute

Olivia Golden, institute fellow, Urban Institute; former assistant secretary for children and families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (moderator)

Paul Jargowsky, professor of public policy, University of Texas at Dallas; visiting scholar, Urban Institute

Kathleen Leos, president and CEO, Global Institute for Language and Literacy Development; former assistant deputy secretary and senior policy adviser, Title III-NCLB, U.S. Department of Education

Bethany Little, chief education counsel, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Manny Rivera, CEO, Global Partnership Schools, Inc.; former New York State deputy secretary of education and superintendent of schools, Rochester, New York