U.S. Supreme Court Considers Funding For English-Learners

Justices ask how much progress is adequate

In the first case about services for English-language learners reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court since 1973, the justices pondered last week what adequate academic progress is for English-language learners, and whether ELLs in the school district where the case originated had met that mark.

Framing the issue, Justice Antonin Scalia asked: “Do you really think that you haven’t complied with adequate funding of ELL programs until you raise all of the ELL students up to the level of native English-speakers?”

The justices seemed deeply divided during oral arguments on whether a federal court had acted appropriately in ordering the Arizona legislature to provide enough funds for...