Assistant Secretary Melendez speaks to students in Denver, CO. Photo by Kristy Armstrong, Denver Public Schools.

On February 3, following a video message from Secretary Duncan, Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Thelma Melendez spoke to members of the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) in Denver, Colorado.  Roughly 2,300 of NABE’s members — from teachers, parents, and students to policymakers and business leaders — gathered to celebrate the organization’s 40-year history of working to ensure high-quality teaching and learning for English learners (ELs).

In his greeting, the Secretary emphasized that access to an excellent education for bilingual students is a civil rights issue.  In her remarks, Dr. Melendez explained why the success of this diverse and fast-growing student group is so vital to this nation’s prosperity.  She noted that roughly one in ten students in the United States is an EL, that 78% of ELs are born in the U.S., and that these students speak over 400 languages.  The Assistant Secretary also recounted her own experience as an English learner.  Her parents came to California from Mexico, and the family spoke Spanish at home.  A supportive kindergarten teacher started her on the road to English proficiency.

Dr. Melendez highlighted a request totaling $800 million for the English Learning Education program in the President’s fiscal year 2011 budget. The funds would help to increase students’ English language proficiency, promote academic success, and encourage bi-literacy in order to strengthen America’s global competitiveness.  Dr. Melendez also discussed the upcoming reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Below are photos from the event and the text of Dr. Melendez’s speech.

Assistant Secretary Melendez visits with students in Denver, CO.

Assistant Secretary Melendez looks over a student's project.