OPEN LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF GEORGIA, CHRIS CARR
August 28, 2025
The Honorable Chris Carr
Office of the Attorney General
40 Capitol Square SW
Atlanta, GA 30334
Dear Attorney General Carr:
As you may know, the U.S. Department of Education has recently rescinded federal guidance for schools and districts regarding their legal obligations to educate and serve English Language Learners (ELL). Additionally, the White House’s proposed budget for the 2026-27 school year includes a plan to eliminate funding for supplemental programming and materials that assist schools in meeting their federal requirements to ensure English learners achieve proficiency in the English language. This action from the Trump Administration undermines critical protections for English Language Learners that were established under the Equal Educational Opportunities Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
Georgia serves over 150,000 English Language Learners. The Georgia General Assembly will meet in less than five months, and the state’s budget will be the priority. Georgia’s 180 school districts depend upon state and federal dollars and must plan their budgets accordingly. The lack of federal guidance regarding their obligations to educate ELL students may adversely impact English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), also known as ELL, personnel and programs. Schools and districts in Georgia must be held accountable for meeting their legal obligations to serve Georgia’s ELL students.
Does the Office of the Attorney General intend to enforce the law by ensuring that Georgia schools and districts comply with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Equal Educational Opportunities Act?
Sincerely,
Verdaillia Turner
President