This year’s NYSABE Conference theme, “Breaking Barriers through Bilingual Education,” honors the visionary educators, students, families, and community leaders who have built and sustained this movement. We recognize their resilience in the face of systemic challenges and celebrate the triumphs that have expanded bilingual education as a pillar of justice and cultural pride.

This year’s conference is both a celebration and a call to action. Even as we commemorate our collective achievements, we remain deeply aware of the persistent inequities faced by bilingual students. In an era of political uncertainty and shifting demographics, bilingual education must be defended and expanded with urgency, innovation, and collective resolve.