English Language Learners in Schools

By Luis Bonilla

and

Lynne Duffy

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A Brief History Since 1980, the number of language minority Americans

has increased at more than four time the rate of the overall population growth, the number of language minority children has increased even faster.

1990 census indicates that nearly one of every six school-aged youth regularly spoke a language other than English in their homes.

In 1994-1995, there were an estimated 3.2 million Limited English Proficient students (LEP) in the US elementary and secondary schools (7% of total enrollment.)

In CA, up to 36% speak another language in the home, 24% being LEP students. This has doubled in the past 10 years.

Timeline

1839, Ohio became the first state to adopt a bilingual education law: German-English. (Followed by Louisiana in 1847 French-English, and New Mexico in 1850 Spanish-English)

1920s saw the dismantling of bilingual education programs. This led to alarming drop out rates and students falling behind in their academic studies.

Bilingual Education act of 1968 Lau v. Nichols, which led to the Equal

Educational Opportunity Act of 1974.

What is the law in Illinois? When an attendance center has an enrollment of 20 or

more limited English proficient students of the same language classification, the school district must establish a transitional bilingual education program (TBE) for each language. (Section 14C-3 of the School Code)

When an attendance center has an enrollment of 19 or fewer students of limited English proficiency from any single non-English language, the school district must provide a transitional program of instruction (TPI) for those students. (Section 14C-3 of the School Code)

Different types of Programs Program 1: Two-way developmental bilingual education (Dual

Language)

Program 2: Late-exit bilingual education and ESL taught through academic content

Program 3: Early-exit bilingual education and ESL taught through academic content

Program 4: Early-exit bilingual education and ESL taught traditionally

Program 5: ESL taught through academic content using current approaches

Program 6: ESL Pullout-taught traditionally

NCE

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GRADE1 3 5 7 9 11

© Wayne P. Thomas and Virginia P. Collier, 1997

NCE

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1 Dual Language

2 Late Exit Bilingual

3 Early Exit Bilingual (Content)

4 Early Exit Bilingual (Language)

5 ESL Full Day

6 ESL Pull-out

Longitudinal Research

Second Language Acquisition:Aspects of Language Proficiency

L1 L2

Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS)

CALPCognitive Academic Language Proficiency

6 months to 2 years

5 to

7 y

ears

Adapted from Jim Cummins by John Hilliard, IRC

The Realities Bilingual education is best? Bilingual programs are not always a possibility

due to the population of the school. The number of ELL students are increasing

across the country, especially in the state of Illinois.

Educators have the research and knowledge as to how ELLs acquire English

So…

How do we maximize learning? Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol

(SIOP) Model www.cal.org English language proficiency standards (ELP

Standards) www.wida.us Teaching for transfer Strategies and delivery models Requiring all stakeholders to participate in the

education of ELLs.

How do we measure proficiency and achievement?

ACCESS for ELLs ISAT AMAO

STANDARDS

Assessment

Curriculum

Instruction

Professional Development+ Technology

Curriculum and instruction are embedded in our Curriculum and instruction are embedded in our standards-based assessment system. standards-based assessment system.

Why are English Language Why are English Language Proficiency Standards Necessary?Proficiency Standards Necessary?

To provide a resource for stakeholders involved in the education of English language learners

To establish a common yardstick, across the member states of the consortium, to define and measure how English language learners acquire language

To meet compliance with Titles I and III of the No Child Left Behind Act

How does staff, student and community beliefs influence the culture of the school?

Education of the staff to ensure that all are responsible

Support teachers with PD that reflect SIP plan for the sub group of ELLs

Educate the students. Educate the parents Educate the community at large.