Summary - NCEL Virtual Summit 2027. Online registration by Cvent

Join us on January 14, 2027 for the second annual National Committee for Effective Literacy (NCEL) Summit, a pivotal gathering dedicated to advancing effective literacy for multilingual learners. The Summit will feature two keynote addresses, interactive workshops, and a closing panel of national experts.

This full day of learning will expand our shared vision of what comprehensive, integrated language and literacy looks like and will empower educators and leaders committed to implementing equitable, multilingual literacy policies and practices.

Speakers from across the country—including researchers, teacher educators, classroom teachers, administrators, school board members, and advocates—will bring deep expertise in literacy and the education of English learners/emergent bilingual students.

Breakout sessions will highlight:

Policy & Advocacy: Advancing equity and accountability at the local, state, and federal levels
Classroom Practice: Evidence-based, culturally and linguistically responsive approaches to instruction
Research: Insights from cutting-edge studies and their implications for practice

Together, we will spark dialogue, share innovative practices, and mobilize action to ensure that every multilingual learner has access to the high-quality literacy education they deserve.

We invite you to be part of this historic convening of voices shaping the future of literacy.

Assistant Professor in Bilingual Education and TESOL, New Mexico State University

Dr. Ibarra Johnson is a nationally recognized leader in bilingual education and co-author of The Translanguaging Classroom: Leveraging Student Bilingualism for Learning. Her career spans roles as a professional development specialist, researcher for WIDA, and director of bilingual multicultural education at Bernalillo Public Schools. She currently serves as vice-president of the Association of Bilingual Education New Mexico (ABENM), NABE Western Region Executive Board Member, and AERA Bilingual Education Research SIG Communication Chair. Her research focuses on translanguaging pedagogy in bilingual and English language development contexts, rooted in her own experiences as a bilingual learner and teacher.

12th U.S. Secretary of Education

Dr. Miguel Cardona is the former 12th U.S. Secretary of Education and founder of Cardona Solutions. With nearly three decades of experience in education, he has served as a teacher, award-winning principal, district leader, and Connecticut Commissioner of Education. As U.S. Secretary of Education, he championed school reopening, educational equity, higher education affordability, and expanded opportunities for students nationwide. A nationally recognized speaker, Dr. Cardona has presented at prestigious institutions, including Harvard, Yale, and UCLA. He currently serves on the boards of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz and USC Schwarzenegger Institute and is a Resident Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School. He holds a doctorate from the University of Connecticut and two honorary doctorates.