English-Learner Proficiency

Learn more about the reclassification of former English-learners, including the proficiency tests they take
Illustration of students and teachers holding puzzle pieces.
F. Sheehan/Education Week and iStock/Getty
English Learners CTQ Collaboratory 10 Assumptions to Rethink About English-Language Learners
Correct misconceptions and put assumptions aside when teaching English-language learners, says Anabel Gonzalez.
Anabel Gonzalez, November 1, 2016
5 min read
English Learners Many Reclassified ELLs Still Need English-Language Support, Study Finds
Students who test out of English-language development programs continue to "struggle with the higher demands of English language arts and math," the WestEd study found.
Corey Mitchell, October 14, 2016
2 min read
Assessment Bureau of Indian Education Joins WIDA Consortium on English-Learners
Joining WIDA allows BIE educators to home in on one set of exams and standards to measure English-language proficiency among American Indian and Alaska Native children.
Corey Mitchell, September 29, 2016
1 min read
English Learners Ed. Dept. Releases ESSA Guidance for English-Language Learners
The guidance, which is non-binding, covers a range of fiscal and monitoring issues in Title III.
Alyson Klein & Corey Mitchell, September 23, 2016
2 min read
English Learners Teachers Should Have Say on When Students Exit ELL Status, Guidance Argues
Guidance suggests that relying on a single, high-stakes assessment when determining when students exit English-language learner is problematic.
Corey Mitchell, September 22, 2016
2 min read
Equity & Diversity English-Language-Learner Classification Can Impede Student Growth, Study Finds
A new study out of the University of Oregon found that designating early elementary students who are close to being proficient in English as ELLs may actually do more harm than good.
Corey Mitchell, September 20, 2016
3 min read
Every Student Succeeds Act ESSA Regs: Ed. Dept. Wants Input on Measuring English-Language Proficiency
Should the department ask states to come up with their own "maximum" time during which a student is expected to become proficient? And if so, what kind of research should inform states' timelines?
Alyson Klein, June 1, 2016
1 min read
English Learners CCSSO Offers Guidance on Reclassification of English-Language Learners
Determining when to exit students from language-learner status is a "high-stakes" decision, the authors of a new report say.
Corey Mitchell, November 6, 2015
1 min read
English Learners As ELL Tests Move Online, Educators Hope for Better Gauge of Skills
Most states will shift to new, computer-based assessments to measure their ELLs' English-language proficiency this school year.
Corey Mitchell, September 22, 2015
7 min read
English Learners How Long Does It Take ELLs to Develop English Proficiency?
It's a question on the mind of many educators. Most researchers agree that proficiency is linked to academic success in other content areas.
Corey Mitchell, August 7, 2015
2 min read
Assessment Florida, Idaho Join Largest ELL Consortium
With the two additions, membership in WIDA, World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment, is now at 36 states.
Corey Mitchell, August 6, 2015
1 min read
English Learners New Guide Aims to Help States, Schools Classify English-Language Learners
Classification policies and evaluation tools can vary widely from state to state, and even district to district, leaving widespread opportunity for error.
Corey Mitchell, January 28, 2015
2 min read
English Learners Researchers Identify 'Goldilocks Effect' of Reclassification on High School ELLs
In an analysis of ELLs in Los Angeles Unified, researchers found that before California toughened scoring on its English-language proficiency test, some high school English-learners may have exited services before they had reached true proficiency in the language.
Holly Yettick, November 12, 2014
5 min read
Assessment Testing Consortium Awards Contract for English-Learner Assessment
The WIDA consortium has chosen a Minnesota company to score its new, common-core aligned English-language proficiency assessment that will debut in 2015-16.
Catherine Gewertz, October 23, 2014
1 min read