Velázquez Press is the Preeminent Authority in Academic Language and Biliteracy. We understand the unique need of English learners. We provide materials and PD to help support academic language development and connect language and content, testing accommodations, parent engagement and interactive mobile websites for English learners.

There are more than 5 million English learner students in the United States. Only 1 in 3 English learner students graduates from high school every year. This problem is especially acute for Hispanic students. Velázquez Press believes we can make a difference with our four key principles:

Most countries in the world require students to learn a second language in school. In the United States, politicians in many states restrict students to learning only in English in their K-12 education. Velázquez Press believes students learning two or more languages will have a brighter future and enrich our world. Velázquez is a proud sponsor of the Seal of Biliteracy and promotes changing the negative views on bilingualism.

Many English learners are born in the U.S., speak fluent English, but fail in school. The reason: these English learners have difficulty understanding academic vocabulary and using academic English. Velázquez Press understands the unique need of these English learners. By providing academic language programs, bilingual references and interactive social learning mobile websites, English learners can learn academic vocabulary and build their academic English skills in a fun and effective environment.

New York-based publisher Appleton and Co. hired Marino Velázquez de la Cadena, a Mexican born Colombia University professor, to publish an American version of a Spanish and English dictionary. The culminating work was A New Pronouncing Dictionary of the Spanish and English Languages. With the addition of more than 8,000 words and idioms, Velázquez’s dictionary was created with reference to Spanish dictionaries by the Spanish Academy, Terreros, Salva, and Seaoanne’s Edition of Neuman and Baretti, as well as English dictionaries by Webster, Worcester, and Walker. This version had more Latin American Spanish than other bilingual dictionaries

Language barriers and cultural differences often discourage English learners’ parents from getting involved in their children’s education. Velázquez Press provides schools with easy to follow parent involvement programs and helps parents get involved in their student’s education.