EL Roadmap Frequently Asked Questions

The official title of the EL Roadmap is the California English Learner Roadmap: Strengthening Comprehensive Educational Policies, Programs, and Practices for English Learners (CA EL Roadmap).

The CA EL Roadmap is a collection of resources that include the California English Learner Roadmap State Board of Education Policy: Educational Program and Services for English Learners (EL Roadmap Policy), the CA EL Roadmap, also referred to as the Guidance Document, and the Web-based Resources. The Guidance Document is a published document that includes the EL Roadmap Policy, the historical context, the connection to the Local Control and Accountability Plan, and illustrative examples from the field that demonstrate the CA EL Roadmap principles in action. The Web-based Resources are a dynamic collection to help local educational agencies implement these effective practices.

The CA EL Roadmap helps local educational agencies (LEAs) update their EL policies in response to changes in the State Standards, the Next Generation Science Standards, the English Language Development Standards, federal, and state law. More information about new state law that has implications for educating English learners can be found on the California Department of Education California Education for a Global Economy Initiative web page.

The CA EL Roadmap provides support to LEAs as they navigate these changes, including illustrative examples submitted by LEAs that exemplify the CA EL Roadmap principles and elements in action. The CA EL Roadmap tools help LEAs self-evaluate and update their policies and engage in continuous improvement.

The purpose of the CA EL Roadmap is to assist local educational agencies (LEAs) to promote local capacity-building and continuous improvement in each of the CA EL Roadmap principles’ areas and their interrelationship. Based on evidence of effectiveness from local experience as well as the most current rigorous research evidence that speaks to the strengths and needs of the diverse population of English learners, LEAs can implement similar strategies as they seek continuous improvement for their schools.

The CA EL Roadmap includes information and resources that can benefit students, parents, community members, teachers, and school and district administrators.

The California English Learner Roadmap State Board of Education Policy: Educational Program and Services for English Learners is available now on the California Department of Education EL Roadmap web page.

The California Department of Education (CDE) collaborated with Stanford Professor Emeritus Dr. Kenji Hakuta and researcher Dr. Laurie Olsen, who facilitated the work of the EL Roadmap workgroup. The EL Roadmap workgroup participants were teachers, administrators, county office of education representatives, educational non-profit representatives, and integrated partners from key educational organizations. A list of the Roadmap workgroup members can be found on the CDE EL Roadmap Workgroup Members web page.

The Guidance Document contains the following sections: an introduction, a “Call to Action”, a “Policy and Research in Historical Context”, the four inter-related principles exemplified in elements, the “From Principles to Practice: Crosswalk to Local Control Accountability Plan” State Priorities, illustrative examples from the field that demonstrate the principles and elements in action, and a conclusion.

The Web-based Resources include illustrative examples from the field that demonstrate the four inter-related principles in action, a self-evaluation tool, web links to related documents, and other resources.

The Web-based Resources are housed on the California Department of Education EL Roadmap web page.

A review committee made up of members of the EL Roadmap Workgroup, the California Department of Education (CDE), and other interested parties review illustrative example submissions from the field. Once an example practice is submitted, the committee analyzes the submission to determine which principle(s) and element(s) it demonstrates and determine if it meets the criteria for illustrative examples. If further information is needed, the CDE may contact the site or complete a site visit. If the example is determined to represent the principle(s) and element(s) in action, it will be posted to the EL Roadmap Web-based Resources for local educational agencies to use.

Yes, each illustrative example corresponds to the principle(s) and element(s) it intends to demonstrate. The resource “From Principles to Practice: Crosswalk to LCAP State Priorities,” available on the California Department of Education EL Roadmap web page, connects each principle and element to the LCAP state priorities.

The Web-based Resources and Guidance Document are available now on the California Department of Education EL Roadmap web page.

The CA EL Roadmap helps local educational agencies update LCAP and Title III plans to ensure that goals are aligned with evidence-based practices for educating English learners. The resource “From Principles to Practice: Crosswalk to LCAP State Priorities,” available on the California Department of Education EL Roadmap web page, demonstrates the connections between the principles in the EL Roadmap Policy and the LCAP.

Become a member of an EL Roadmap Implementation Advisory Committee. This group is made up of EL Roadmap Workgroup members and other stakeholders. This network collaborates with the California Department of Education by co-presenting, writing and advising on training materials, vetting submissions to the EL Roadmap Web-based Resources, disseminating communication regarding the provisions of the EL Roadmap training events, and other implementation activities for the CA EL Roadmap. For more information, please contact the Multilingual Support Division by phone at 916-319-0938 or by email at ELROADMAPPROJECT@cde.ca.gov.

The California Department of Education (CDE) encourages local educational agencies (LEAs) to attend CDE-sponsored workshops and intensive institutes, and engage in continuous improvement and self-assessment by reviewing and updating current LEA polices based on the EL Roadmap Policy, available on the CDE EL Roadmap web page.

For questions related to the CA EL Roadmap, contact the Multilingual Support Division at the CDE by phone at 916-319-0938 or by email at ELROADMAPPROJECT@cde.ca.gov.