Students Learning English Are Isolated in Poor Schools, Study Finds
Gaps in test scores narrow when students who have not mastered English are not isolated in low-achieving schools, according to a new report from the Pew Center for English-Language learning.
The report released June 26 noted that students designated as English language learners (ELL) tend to go to public schools with low standardized test scores – schools where other groups are also struggling. These schools generally have high student-teacher ratios, high student enrollments and high student poverty rates, the report said.
The report focused on public schools in Arizona, California, Florida, New York and Texas, states that educated about 70 percent of the nation’s students enrolled in English language learning (ELL) programs.
As defined in the report, “English language learner (ELL) students are designated by public schools as students who cannot excel in an English language classroom. Designation procedures vary across states and school districts but often include a test of the student’s English reading and writing skills as well as listening and speaking abilities.”
