The Voice for MLs
The National Association of English Learner Program Administrators (NAELPA) serves as the voice of multilingual learners (MLs), representing State Education Agencies (SEAs) and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) across the United States. We are small enough to hear individual voices, yet powerful enough to be heard as a whole. The organization provides its members with direct contact to the change agents in each state and at the Federal level. With two-way communication between the council and the decision makers, our voice can be heard. Join today and be part of the voice!
A message from our president, Nicole Leach
I am filled with excitement when I consider the growth and enthusiasm that has surrounded NAELPA since my first conference as an Indiana SEA member in 2018. My participation in NAELPA has continued to grow from that first event to serving as the NAELPA Secretary for two years starting in 2019. Beginning this year as the first LEA NAELPA President fills me with purpose. NAELPA has the capacity to hear voices now from the LEA level all the way to our advisory members and the U.S. Department of Education. We have collaborative committees that are full of passionate Multilingual Learners (ML) educators working together to provide information and inspiration to the ML field. I am proud to be part of such a unique organization, and I am encouraged and motivated to serve alongside our members as we add to NAELPA’s reach in the field.
NAELPA Statement on Support for Assets-Based Terminology
It is important to NAELPA to use asset-based terminology when referring to our work and the population of students we serve. We acknowledge that the current name of this organization, The National Association of English Learner Program Administrators (NAELPA), uses English Learner (EL), which is considered deficit based. With current federal legislation using English Learners (ELs) to identify this population the NAELPA board will continue with this usage for clarity purposes in the short term. The term NAELPA prefers is Multilingual Learner (ML), which the organization views as a more asset-based term. NAELPA will take an active role in advocating for the wider use of assets-based nomenclature and helping to make it more standardized in our field and beyond.
For a more detailed description, check out the full NAELPA Asset-Based Terminology statement.