Providing appropriate tests for English-language learners is one of the biggest challenges that states face in complying with requirements for that group of students under the No Child Left Behind Act, concludes an issue brief by the National Council of La Raza.
“Improving Assessment and Accountability for English Language Learners in the No Child Left Behind Act” is available from the National Council of La Raza.
The 27-page report by the Washington-based Latino advocacy group says that “due to lack of resources and technical assistance from the U.S. Department of Education, most states are using invalid and inappropriate testing instruments to assess ELLs in academic content.”
Still, the report says the federal law holds promise for improving the education of English-language learners, and spells out ways the U.S. Department of Education could improve its implementation of the law for such students.
