New Research Highlights Gains made by English Learners

by Aaron Leo, NYKids Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate

In contrast with widely-held assumptions that English Learners (ELs) have made little progress over the last decade, new findings released in Educational Researcher report that ELs in U.S. high schools are actually making consistent progress.

Researchers Michael J. Kieffer and Karen D. Thompson analyzed National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data to show that there have been significant gains for this population. The authors conclude that such gains are only visible when taking into account the achievement of current as well as former ELs.

Although Kieffer and Thompson cannot pinpoint the reason for the gains in EL progress, they reason that increased attention on the performance of ELs combined with new requirements for their teachers has helped facilitate the growth.

NYKids’ current research (to be released in October) on odds-beating schools provides some additional insight into the reasons for the increase in EL performance. The odds-beating schools included in this study promoted the success of their EL population through culturally-responsive teaching practices, well-trained staff members, and an inclusive school climate.