English Language Learners

English Language Learners. Challenge and Opportunity.

English language learners (ELLs) are the fastest growing school-age subpopulation in the country with the highest dropout rate and lowest graduation rate of all subgroups. These students must meet the same rigorous content standards as their English-speaking classmates, with the added challenge of learning a new language. While 40 percent of teachers have taught ELL students, fewer than 13 percent of those teachers have received any formal ELL training. Addressing these challenges effectively allows school districts to make significant gains among the subpopulation most drastically affecting annual yearly progress (AYP).

Developed with Dr. Kenji Hakuta, Dr. Guadalupe Valdes, and other researchers at Stanford University, best-practice videos are a key component of our program. They provide a vision of effective strategies for instructing English language learners, help develop a common language, enhance coaching skills, and identify ELL-specific look fors to improve teacher effectiveness.

This Program of Study includes onsite coaching for instructional leaders, content-focused observation protocols, and valuable online resources like the following:

• Building Literacy in High School
  High school-aged English Language Learners have the lowest graduation rate of any sub group. This online resource is designed to provide teachers of ELLs with the knowledge and research-based strategies they need to ensure their students develop the English language and content literacy skills they need to succeed in school.
• Strategies for Middle Schools
  Middle school youngsters face unique social, emotional and academic challenges as they transition from childhood to young adulthood. This online resource is designed to enable both English language development and content teachers to provide developmentally appropriate ways for middle school ELLs to develop English language skills and learn standards-focused academic content.
• Literacy Development for Elementary Students
  Focused on supporting early literacy skills, this online resource offers classroom teachers a range of research-based strategies to use to promote effective listening, speaking, reading and writing among ELLs in grades K-5.
• Resources for Instructional Leaders
  Addressing the special challenges faced by instructional leaders responsible for closing the achievement gap of ELL students, this online resource includes a comprehensive look at characteristics of ELL students, current theories of instruction, laws affecting ELLs, different types of programs, and strategies for meeting content and language objectives.