Legislation & Policy
Legislation and State Board Policies Relating to the ML/Title III Program and English Language Development (ELD)
Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
1964 Civil Rights Act (Title VI)
Dear Colleague Letter: English Learner Students and Limited English Proficient Parents: The U.S. Departments of Education and Justice released this guidance reminding states, school districts, and schools of their obligations under federal law to ensure that ELLs have access to a high-quality education and the opportunity to achieve their full academic potential. In August 2025, the 2015 Dear Colleague Letter related to serving ELL students was rescinded. The laws and court cases on which this document was based are still in place. ESSA requires every state education agency to "monitor every local education agency [LEA] to ensure that they are providing ELs with meaningful access to grade-level core content instruction and remedying any academic deficit in a timely manner" (U.S. Department of Education, 2016, p. 1).
NC Administrative Code 16 NCAC 06D .0106
NC State Board Policy TEST-011