English Language Learner (ELL) enrollment has remained stable over the past six years, but the number of different languages spoken in districts has increased significantly, according to a new report.
The findings come from the Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS), a coalition of the nation’s largest public schools, which recently released the results of a follow-up to its 2013 report on ELL trends within its 74 member districts.
The report offers insights related to ELL enrollment, performance, English proficiency levels, and professional development.
Other notable insights include:
- ELLs receive special education services at the same rate as non-ELLs
- Levels of math and reading achievement of former ELLs not enrolled in free and reduced-price lunch (FRPL) are similar to non-ELLs who were also not FRPL-eligible
- ELLs have similar attendance patterns to non-ELLs
- All districts whose percentage of ELLs relative to non-ELLs increased the most are in Texas (Dallas ISD, Arlington ISD, El Paso ISD, Houston ISD, and Austin ISD)
- Dallas ISD had the largest increase in ELL enrollment (23 percent) as a percent of total enrollment
- 10 percent of ELLs remained in a language acquisition program for six years or more
To read the full report, visit the CGCS website.
Keith McLemore is a compensation consultant at TASB HR Services. Send Keith an email at keith.mclemore@tasb.org.
Tagged: Diversity, "English as a Second Language", ESL