69´«Ă˝

English Learners Interactive

Map: How States Describe Their English Learners

By Ileana Najarro — March 30, 2023 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

The terminology used to describe students in need of English-language support in schools has evolved over time, with the goal of emphasizing multilingualism as an asset.

Since the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act, the U.S. Department of Education has focused on using English learner in its policy communications. But when it comes to state agencies implementing English-language services for students, EL is not the only term present.

Researchers say that which terms are used matters. Terminology and its connotations can drive policy, which, in turn, drives practice. A deficit-based term such as limited English proficient, for instance, could send the message that students’ ability to speak a language other than English is a challenge to learning.

SupportEd, an education consulting firm, in classifying students who are legally eligible for English-language support.

The report found that a majority of 30 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico use only English learners consistently on their state education web pages. Three states (Colorado, Maine, and South Carolina) opt for the use of multilingual learners, a relatively newer term in policy, research, and practice meant to more clearly highlight students’ abilities to speak multiple languages, including indigenous languages and dialects.

To learn more about why the different terms are more than just changes in semantics, click here.

To learn more about the history behind the major terms used, click here.

Related Tags:

Events

School & District Management Webinar Crafting Outcomes-Based Contracts That Work for Everyone
Discover the power of outcomes-based contracts and how they can drive student achievement.
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
School & District Management Webinar
Harnessing AI to Address Chronic Absenteeism in 69´«Ă˝
Learn how AI can help your district improve student attendance and boost academic outcomes.
Content provided by 
School & District Management Webinar EdMarketer Quick Hit: What’s Trending among K-12 Leaders?
What issues are keeping K-12 leaders up at night? Join us for EdMarketer Quick Hit: What’s Trending among K-12 Leaders?

EdWeek Top School Jobs

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

Read Next

English Learners Opinion Teacher Tips for Supporting English Learners
69´«Ă˝' stress over learning a new language in a new environment can affect their academic success. Proper support can ease that.
11 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
English Learners Explainer Undocumented 69´«Ă˝ Have the Right to a Free Education. This Is Why
A landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling protected undocumented students' access to free public education. Some lawmakers seek to overturn it.
8 min read
69´«Ă˝ at Valencia Newcomer School wait to change classes Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, in Phoenix. Children from around the world are learning the English skills and American classroom customs they need to succeed at so-called newcomer schools. Valencia Newcomer School in Phoenix is among a handful of such public schools in the United States dedicated exclusively to helping some of the thousands of children who arrive in the country annually.
69´«Ă˝ at Valencia Newcomer School wait to change classes Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, in Phoenix. Children from around the world are learning the English skills and American classroom customs they need to succeed at so-called newcomer schools. Under a 1982 Supreme Court precedent, public schools can't charge tuition to children who are new arrivals in the United States.
Ross D. Franklin/AP
English Learners English Learners With Disabilities: The Rules 69´«Ă˝ Have to Follow
69´«Ă˝ can't force English learners with disabilities to choose between special ed. and language instruction—and other tips from OCR.
4 min read
Photo of teacher and blind student using braille slate.
E+
English Learners Q&A A Teacher Makes the Case for Using AI With English Learners
Sarah Said teaches her high school English learners how to responsibly use AI tools for language learning.
4 min read
Image of the concept of AI integrated into the classroom.
Stephanie Shafer for Education Week