Page 18 - ELG1705 May Issue 447

DATA & ANALYSIS

New studies show that mainstreaming ELLs in the US does not have any one
particular effect on their attainment at high school – outcomes can vary considerably.
?
Claudia Civinini looks at an important issue for educators and policy makers

Do ELLs sink
English pro ciency of all ELLs
in grade 5 or 6 in 2003/2004

or swim in the

mainstream

o reclassify or not to reclassify? as ‘former English language learners’. While
With more students than ever intuitively it may seem that reclassification
entering the US education – and then mainstreaming – could have a
system with limited English positive impact on students’ outcomes and
 Beginner T skills, this is the question graduation rates, the data is not that clear cut.
Intermediate keeping US policy makers and researchers busy. And how are ELLs faring at school? Again,
Advanced
Pro cient About 10 per cent of all students in the US this may depend on how we look at the data.
are English language learners (ELLs). Some of A new study* published by the US
them make progress faster and get reclassified Department of Education has found that ELLs’

18 May 2017

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