English Learners Report Roundup

Research Report: English-Language Learners

By Corey Mitchell — May 30, 2017 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Teaching Tolerance, an education project at the Southern Poverty Law Center, has published a guide designed to help educators ensure that English-language learners and their families have equitable experiences at school.

“For many educators, helping children learn English is a joy and a privilege,” the report says. “But classroom educators may not always know how their administration is approaching ELL students and vice versa.”

The report recommends districts devise consistent strategies for enrolling English-learners, engaging with parents, and building anti-bias work into classroom culture.

A version of this article appeared in the May 30, 2017 edition of Education Week as English-Language Learners

Events

Budget & Finance Webinar Creative Approaches to K-12 Budget Realities
What are districts prioritizing in 2026? New survey data reveals emerging K-12 budgeting trends.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
College & Workforce Readiness Webinar
From Coursework to Careers: Expanding Work-Based Learning and Industry Credentials in CTE
Expand work-based learning and industry credentials in CTE to connect classroom learning with real careers and prepare students for future success.
Content provided by Project Lead The Way
College & Workforce Readiness Webinar Data-Driven and District-Ready: What EdWeek Research Tells Us About the CTE Market
Discover how to sharpen your positioning in a fast-moving market of CTE with actionable strategies grounded in EdWeek Research Center data.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

English Learners Making the "Puzzles" of Math Lessons Less Confusing for English Learners
Modeling, pre-teaching, and effective use of visuals can help students, speakers at an EdWeek forum said.
4 min read
ANNANDALE, VA - APRIL 08: English learners are taught the subject, algebra one with ESOL teacher , Anna Kyle, (right)shown here with tenth grader Thinh Vuong Phung and Student teacher Kim Ngo (left) at Annandale High School on April 08, 2026 in Annandale, Virginia. Various approaches include group work, community building, and academic literacy. Materials are created collaboratively, including digital activities (e.g. Kahoot) with writing and speaking assessments. The team tracks progress using standards-based grading and a running spreadsheet. Teachers emphasize vocabulary skills, interactive notebooks, and scaffolds to support language learners. The success of multilingual learners is monitored through test data and reassessments, ensuring students understand their mastery of standards. 
English learners are taught Algebra I by an ESOL teacher at Annandale High School on April 8, 2026 in Annandale, Virginia. English learners in middle and high school are at different places in their language development, which can undermine their confidence and engagement in the subject.
Marvin Joseph for Education Week
English Learners This Simple Procedural Change Can Improve Outcomes for English Learners
A Michigan study found more students exiting out of English-learner status with one policy change.
3 min read
A look at the state of teaching with English learner students in Antioch, Tenn.
A five-year-old English learner works on a rug with other kindergarten students as they talk about the seasons at an elementary school in Antioch, Tenn., on Dec. 3, 2025. A new study found students are more likely to exit out of English-learner status if states partially automate the reclassification process.
William DeShazer for Education Week
English Learners From Our Research Center What Educators Say English Learners Need Most
Educators spoke of the need for more training in a national survey on English-learner instruction.
3 min read
Photo collage of a young English learner student working at his desk. His photo is inside a circle and on a blue background. The blue background is split if 4 quadrants with a subtle brick wall texture. Inside the 4 quadrants are silhouettes of a woman writing on a clipboard, a parent holding the hand of a young girl, a police officer, and two speech bubbles.
Gina Tomko/Education Week + Canva
English Learners From Our Research Center How Schools Serve English Learners Today, in Charts
New national survey data sheds light on where schools can improve English learners' instruction.
4 min read
A look at the state of teaching with English learner students in Antioch, Tenn.
English-language teacher Tameka Marshall leads a lesson dissecting a speech at John F. Kennedy Middle School on Dec. 3, 2025, in Antioch, Tenn. A national survey found that, while English-learner teachers are viewed as primarily responsible for these students, they are not always included in schoolwide instructional decisions.
William DeShazer for Education Week