IMPACT 2025, Ellevation’s free, three-day virtual conference, is back, and this year we’re focusing on the power of collaboration to support multilingual learners. When educators, families, and communities lift each other up, they create spaces where teachers feel empowered and students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

The conference theme, Impact that lasts: sustainable support for multilingual learners, reflects our commitment to strategies and practices that endure beyond the classroom. Across three days, sessions explore topics like collaborating to win together, building belonging in the classroom, and staying curious—offering practical, research-backed approaches that educators can put into action immediately.

From navigating complex texts to fostering inclusive classrooms, IMPACT 2025 equips educators with the tools, insights, and connections they need to make a lasting difference for multilingual learners.

Supporting English learners with complex texts

Challenge: One of the most persistent challenges for educators of multilingual learners is providing access to complex, grade-level texts while maintaining the right level of scaffolding. When texts are simplified or replaced, students miss valuable opportunities to develop academic language and critical thinking skills. Educators need practical, engaging ways to help students interact meaningfully with challenging content without lowering expectations.

At IMPACT 2025, you’ll gain actionable strategies to meet this challenge head-on. In Side by Side Structures to Support Challenging Texts, educator, coach, and author Carly Spina will share high-impact approaches that move beyond simply leveling or translating texts. Discover how to implement side-by-side structures that make complex texts accessible in any content area, helping multilingual learners engage deeply, build confidence, and thrive academically.

Funding decisions that support multilingual learners

The challenge: With shifting federal policies and limited resources, districts face difficult decisions about how to fund programs that best support multilingual learners. Understanding the latest guidance, laws, and court cases is essential to making informed choices that ensure equitable opportunities for all students.Staying current with evolving federal and state requirements can be overwhelming for district and school leaders.

IMPACT 2025 offers a session designed to make navigating these complexities manageable. In Federal Policy and Funding Updates Related to Multilingual Learners, Dr. David Holbrook, Director of State Partnerships at Ellevation, will guide participants through how to strategically use Title I and other ESSA funding. Attendees will leave with concrete strategies to ensure funding decisions have a direct, positive impact on multilingual learners’ success.

Effective literacy instruction for SLIFE

The challenge: Teachers often face unique challenges when working with SLIFE (Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education). Designing authentic learning experiences that honor students’ backgrounds while accelerating literacy development requires both creativity and expertise. Without targeted strategies, students may miss critical opportunities to build foundational skills and engage meaningfully with academic content.

In Effective Literacy Instruction for SLIFE, Dr. Carol Salva, author and lead educational consultant at Seidlitz Education, will share research-based, practical strategies drawn from real classroom experiences. Participants will explore approaches to boost English literacy while leveraging students’ rich linguistic and cultural assets, helping SLIFE learners accelerate their learning and thrive academically.

Building belonging from day one for newcomers

The challenge: Multilingual newcomers often arrive in classrooms with varied experiences and levels of English proficiency, making it critical to create inclusive spaces from the very first day. When students don’t feel safe or valued, their engagement, confidence, and willingness to share their voices can be limited. Educators need strategies that lower the affective filter and foster authentic connection.

Collaborative Curiosity: Exploring Multimodal Expression with Newcomer Voices presented by Elise White Díaz, educational consultant and author at Seidlitz Education, provides interactive, hands-on approaches to meet this challenge. Participants will learn how to use multimodal strategies—including co-constructed texts, visual storytelling, and playful exploration—to engage all four language domains. By nurturing curiosity alongside students, teachers can cultivate belonging, amplify newcomer voices, and build inclusive classroom communities from day one.

IMPACT 2025 is your opportunity to connect, learn, and build sustainable change for multilingual learners. Join educators from across the country in shaping classrooms and communities where every learner can thrive.