E.g., 06/15/2026
E.g., 06/15/2026
K-12 Education

K-12 Education

_K 12

Immigrants and second-generation students who are children of immigrants confront a number of unique academic challenges, including limited proficiency in the host-country language and greater barriers in preparing for college and careers. Research here focuses on student educational attainment and in particular on English Learners (ELs), who have persistent and wide achievement gaps with native English speakers. Adolescent ELs face a greater workload, learning English at the same time they are studying core content areas in English.

Recent Activity

Trish Morita-Mullaney speaking on webinar
Multimedia
March 5, 2026
The ESSA Waiver Landscape and Implications for K-12 English Learners
Cover image for Native Language Assessments for K-12 English Learners
Fact Sheets
March 2026
Native Language Assessments for K-12 English Learners: A 2025 State-Level Snapshot
By  Greg García, Gloria Choi and Lorena Mancilla
Cover image for Graduating into Uncertainty
Fact Sheets
February 2026
Graduating into Uncertainty: Unauthorized Immigrant Students in U.S. High Schools
By  Jeanne Batalova
A woman and child at the Moldova-Ukraine border
Articles
December 4, 2025
Moldova Shoulders Disproportionately Large Ukrainian Population, in the Shadow of the European Union and Russia
By Benedicta Solf and Casey O’Neill
The Young Lives Uprooted by Climate Change
Multimedia
November 10, 2025
The Young Lives Uprooted by Climate Change
Fact sheet thumbnail for 2025 unauthorized immigrants research
Fact Sheets
October 2025
Changing Origins, Rising Numbers: Unauthorized Immigrants in the United States
By  Julia Gelatt, Ariel G. Ruiz Soto and James D. Bachmeier
Cover image for All in for a Thriving Connecticut
Reports
September 2025
All in for a Thriving Connecticut: Opportunities to Support Upward Mobility for the State’s Immigrant Families
By  Margie McHugh, Julia Gelatt, Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, Katherine Habben, Jacob Hofstetter and Julie Sugarman
Una mujer de Honduras en un desfile en Washington, DC.
Articles
August 14, 2025
Inmigrantes centroamericanos en los Estados Unidos
By Rebecca Dasema y Jeanne Batalova
More
Cover image for Native Language Assessments for K-12 English Learners
Fact Sheets
March 2026
Native Language Assessments for K-12 English Learners: A 2025 State-Level Snapshot
By  Greg García, Gloria Choi and Lorena Mancilla
Cover image for Graduating into Uncertainty
Fact Sheets
February 2026
Graduating into Uncertainty: Unauthorized Immigrant Students in U.S. High Schools
By  Jeanne Batalova
Fact sheet thumbnail for 2025 unauthorized immigrants research
Fact Sheets
October 2025
Changing Origins, Rising Numbers: Unauthorized Immigrants in the United States
By  Julia Gelatt, Ariel G. Ruiz Soto and James D. Bachmeier
Cover image for All in for a Thriving Connecticut
Reports
September 2025
All in for a Thriving Connecticut: Opportunities to Support Upward Mobility for the State’s Immigrant Families
By  Margie McHugh, Julia Gelatt, Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, Katherine Habben, Jacob Hofstetter and Julie Sugarman
Cover image for Refining State Accountability Systems for English Learner Success
Reports
January 2024
Refining State Accountability Systems for English Learner Success
By  Megan Hopkins, Pete Goldschmidt, Julie Sugarman, Delia Pompa and Lorena Mancilla
Cover image for Recent Immigrant Children
Fact Sheets
October 2023
Recent Immigrant Children: A Profile of New Arrivals to U.S. Schools
By  Julie Sugarman
Cover imgage for ESSER brief
Policy Briefs
July 2023
ESSER: Moving the Needle on Equitable and Adequate Education Funding for English Learners
By  Jazmin Flores Peña, Julie Sugarman and Lorena Mancilla
Cover image for Unlocking Opportunities report
Reports
April 2023
Unlocking Opportunities: Supporting English Learners’ Equitable Access to Career and Technical Education
By  Julie Sugarman
More
A woman and child at the Moldova-Ukraine border
Feature
December 4, 2025
Moldova Shoulders Disproportionately Large Ukrainian Population, in the Shadow of the European Union and Russia

One of Europe’s poorest countries, Moldova has hosted more displaced Ukrainians per capita than any other nation. More than one-quarter of the nearly 7 million Ukrainians who fled since Russia’s 2022 invasion have passed through Moldova. This article provides an overview of the little country shouldering a disproportionate burden even as it is pulled between Russia and the European Union.

A woman from Honduras in a parade in Washington, DC
Spotlight
August 14, 2025
Central American Immigrants in the United States

Central Americans comprise one of the fastest-growing immigrant groups in the United States, and now account for nearly one in every ten immigrants. Most Central American immigrants come from either El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras. Notably large shares are in the U.S. labor force and arrived since 2010. This article provides useful current and historical data and other information about this population.

Una mujer de Honduras en un desfile en Washington, DC.
Spotlight
August 14, 2025
Inmigrantes centroamericanos en los Estados Unidos

Las personas de América Central representan casi uno de cada diez inmigrantes en los Estados Unidos, una población en rápido crecimiento. La mayoría de los inmigrantes centroamericanos provienen de El Salvador, Guatemala o Honduras. Este artículo proporciona información sobre la población inmigrante centroamericana en los Estados Unidos.

Map of North and South Korea
Feature
July 8, 2025
Slipping through the Cracks in South Korea: The Uncertain Futures for the Children of North Korean Defectors

As the number of defections from North to South Korea has declined, South Korea has struggled to respond to a new trend: a rising number of children born during defectors' long stays in China or other third country. As this article explains, these children automatically become South Korean citizens upon arrival but are not eligible for the range of government benefits designed to support defectors, leaving many to fall through the cracks. 

People ride bicycles in the Za'atari refugee camp in Jordan.
Feature
June 5, 2025
The Fragile Yet Unmistakable Long-Term Integration of Syrian Refugees in Jordan

As Syria enters a new era with the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad, the question of return of millions of Syrians who sought refuge internationally looms large. In Jordan, which has been a key host for Syrian refugees, limited numbers of Syrians have chosen to return to date. Instead, what has quietly taken shape is a fragile form of long-term integration. This article examines Jordan's response to the protracted Syrian displacement over time and prospects for the future.

More
School desks in a classroom
Short Reads
April 2025
Schools and Immigrant Students Navigate an Era of Rising Immigration Enforcement
By  Julie Sugarman
Image of teacher helping group of students at their computers
Short Reads
June 2024
Leveraging Digital Skills: Immigrant-Origin High School Graduates Offer a Pool of Talent for U.S. Employers
By  Jeanne Batalova
Image of two students in a classroom, one with a laptop
Short Reads
June 2022
How State Assessments Became and Remain a Driver for Equity for English Learners
By  Melissa Lazarin
Image of masked woman with a clipboard speaking with another woman outside her home.
Short Reads
May 2022
Schools Should Engage Diverse Community Stakeholders to Promoting Equitable Allocation of Historic Funding to Reimagine Education
By  Jazmin Flores Peña
Short Reads
June 2021
Rebuilding the U.S. Education System for the Nation’s English Learners
By  Melissa Lazarin and Jazmin Flores Peña
BreadforWorld_DACA_3
Short Reads
February 2021
A Deeper Look at the DREAMers Who Could Feature in the Legalization Debate in Congress
By  Jeanne Batalova and Michael Fix
LatinoMentalHealth commentary December2020
Short Reads
December 2020
How the Fear of Immigration Enforcement Affects the Mental Health of Latino Youth
By  Randy Capps and Michael Fix
StudentRoom Flickr JamieHenderson
Short Reads
June 2020
COVID-19 Spotlights the Inequities Facing English Learner Students, as Nonprofit Organizations Seek to Mitigate Challenges
By  Melissa Lazarin
DREAMERS Justin ValasFlickr
Short Reads
March 2019
More Than a DREAM (Act), Less Than a Promise
By  Julia Gelatt
_DACAterminate
Short Reads
September 2017
All Eyes Turn to Congress, Following Trump Decision to Terminate DACA Program
By  Julia Gelatt
More
Collection of illustrations related to finance, business, and people working together
Explainers
October 2024

Explainer: Immigrants and the U.S. Economy

The question of whether immigration represents a net cost or a net benefit to the U.S. economy has been a major source of contention, even as the research literature and thinking among economists has been quite clear. A strong body of research and consensus by most economists finds that immigration, on balance, is a net positive for the U.S. economy. This explainer walks through the issues.

Trish Morita-Mullaney speaking on webinar
Video, Audio
March 5, 2026

The ESSA Waiver Landscape and Implications for K-12 English Learners

This discussion focuses on the federal government's invitation to states to seek waivers of their obligations under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Experts offer an overview of current state waivers and their objectives, and what these developments might mean for English Learners (ELs) and their schools. 

The Young Lives Uprooted by Climate Change
Expert Q&A, Audio
November 10, 2025

The Young Lives Uprooted by Climate Change

Children are especially vulnerable to displacement linked to climate change. This episode of the Changing Climate, Changing Migration podcast features a discussion with UNICEF’s Laura Healy about this reality and the opportunities to better protect children in a warming world.

Expert Q&A, Audio
May 2, 2024

What Does It Take to Increase Refugees’ Access to Education and Work? Insights from Ethiopia

The Ethiopian government has pledged to increase access to education and employment for refugees, most of whom live in camps. There have been ups and downs along the way. This episode explores the key trends.

Image of doctor explaining a diagnosis to a teen female patient sitting on a hospital bed
Video, Audio
April 24, 2023

Strengthening Medical and Mental Health Services for Unaccompanied Children in U.S. Communities

Marking the launch of a report by the American Academy of Pediatrics and MPI, this event examines unaccompanied children’s access to medical and mental health services post-release and offering recommendations for improvements.

Video
April 19, 2023

Career and Technical Education as a Bridge to High School English Learner Success

This webinar, marking the launch of a report, looks at career and technical education programs and federal, state, and school district policies that support English Learners' inclusion in these programs.

More

Recent Activity

Video, Audio, Webinars
March 5, 2026

The ESSA Waiver Landscape and Implications for K-12 English Learners

This discussion focuses on the federal government's invitation to states to seek waivers of their obligations under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Experts offer an overview of current state waivers and their objectives, and what these developments might mean for English Learners (ELs) and their schools. 

Fact Sheets
March 2026

Native Language Assessments for K-12 English Learners: A 2025 State-Level Snapshot

Native language assessments are an important tool for measuring what K–12 English Learner (EL) students know in core academic subjects, independent of their English proficiency level. This fact sheet provides an overview of which states offer assessments in students’ home languages, for which subjects, and how this landscape has changed in recent years.

Fact Sheets
February 2026

Graduating into Uncertainty: Unauthorized Immigrant Students in U.S. High Schools

All high school students face important questions about what comes next after graduation. Those who are unauthorized immigrants face additional challenges—from heightened immigration enforcement to states walking back in-state tuition policies for these students. This fact sheet provides estimates of the number and characteristics of unauthorized immigrant children who are reaching the end of high school and graduating from K-12 schools across the United States each year.

Articles
December 4, 2025

Moldova Shoulders Disproportionately Large Ukrainian Population, in the Shadow of the European Union and Russia

One of Europe’s poorest countries, Moldova has hosted more displaced Ukrainians per capita than any other nation. More than one-quarter of the nearly 7 million Ukrainians who fled since Russia’s 2022 invasion have passed through Moldova. This article provides an overview of the little country shouldering a disproportionate burden even as it is pulled between Russia and the European Union.

Expert Q&A, Audio
November 10, 2025

The Young Lives Uprooted by Climate Change

Children are especially vulnerable to displacement linked to climate change. This episode of the Changing Climate, Changing Migration podcast features a discussion with UNICEF’s Laura Healy about this reality and the opportunities to better protect children in a warming world.

Fact Sheets
October 2025

Changing Origins, Rising Numbers: Unauthorized Immigrants in the United States

The 13.7 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States as of mid-2023 reflect increasingly diverse origins, socioeconomic and labor market characteristics, family composition, and places of settlement. This fact sheet explores those trends, drawing on MPI's detailed data profiles of the unauthorized immigrant population at U.S., state, and top county levels. 

Reports
September 2025

All in for a Thriving Connecticut: Opportunities to Support Upward Mobility for the State’s Immigrant Families

Immigrants comprise 15 percent of Connecticut’s population, and nearly 30 percent of children in the state are part of immigrant families. Having driven all state population and workforce growth over the last 15 years, immigrants are an important part of Connecticut’s present and its future. This report examines state policies and systems that aim to support upward mobility for all families, highlighting ways in which they could better meet the needs of low-income immigrant families.

Articles
August 14, 2025

Inmigrantes centroamericanos en los Estados Unidos

Las personas de América Central representan casi uno de cada diez inmigrantes en los Estados Unidos, una población en rápido crecimiento. La mayoría de los inmigrantes centroamericanos provienen de El Salvador, Guatemala o Honduras. Este artículo proporciona información sobre la población inmigrante centroamericana en los Estados Unidos.

More