TESOL International Association Statement on U.S. Department of Justice Guidance Related to Executive Order 14244

by TESOL International Association |

TESOL International Association strongly opposes the recent guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the implementation of Executive Order 14244, Designating English as the Official Language of the United States of America. This guidance undermines long-standing federal efforts to ensure language access for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) and erodes educational opportunity for millions of English learners and their families.

Although the administration has prioritized "returning education to the states" and expanding parental choice, this guidance contradicts those goals by limiting access to vital information and services for more than 14 million English learners who are U.S. citizens. The DOJ's suspension of language access plans, including activities associated with LEP.gov, jeopardizes equal access to public safety, healthcare, civic engagement, and—critically—education.

The DOJ's directive reduces access to school communications in languages families understand, thereby diminishing the quality of education for English learners and hindering parents' ability to make informed decisions for their children. This restriction does not promote English proficiency or national unity—it creates new barriers and deepens educational inequities.

While the guidance encourages reallocating language access funding to support programs for English proficiency, such statements ring hollow in the context of the administration’s ongoing disinvestment in educational programs that directly benefit English learners at all levels.

TESOL International Association continues to advocate for inclusive, evidence-based policies that support the teaching and learning of English. The March 1, 2025, Executive Order 14244 (see here TESOL statement on Order 14244) and related DOJ guidance run counter to established federal legal protections and civil rights principles that prohibit discrimination based on language background.

TESOL reaffirms its commitment to partnering with federal, state, local, and non-governmental organizations to ensure access to education and civic life for all individuals, regardless of their English language proficiency.

We call on the Administration and Congress to:

  • Restore and uphold language access to public and civic services;
  • Expand investment in educational programs that support English learners;
  • Champion policies that honor the diverse linguistic and cultural assets of all learners.

Now is the time to renew our national commitment to English language education—not by restricting access, but by expanding opportunity.

 

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