States must identify languages other than English that are prevalent among their students under federal law, and report whether they offer standardized academic assessments in these languages.
Though states are not required to offer native language assessments for English learners, 35 states and the District of Columbia did so in 2025, according to an analysis by the think tank the Migration Policy Institute.
These accommodations help schools get a more well-rounded understanding of the academic knowledge English learners possess, said Lorena Mancilla, the associate director for K-12 partnerships and policy at the Migration Policy Institute.
Procuring native language assessments can be challenging and costly for states, Mancilla added, which is partly why not all states offer such accommodations in all significant languages.
The Migration Policy Institute also found discrepancies in the subjects that native language assessments cover. Math is the most likely to be offered, though they have no definitive answer as to why.
