Leveled and Exclusionary Tracking

2016 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 1792-1833 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilana M. Umansky
Keyword(s):  
Language Arts ◽  
English Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Institutional Constraints ◽  
Urban School District ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Regression Discontinuity Designs ◽  
Educational Tracking ◽  
Upper Level ◽  
Academic Content

This study examines the characteristics and determinants of English learners’ (ELs’) access to academic content in middle school (Grades 6–8). Following 10 years of data from a large urban school district in California, I identify two predominant characteristics of EL access to content: leveled tracking in which ELs are overrepresented in lower level classes and underrepresented in upper level classes and exclusionary tracking in which ELs are excluded from core academic content area classes, particularly English language arts. Using regression analysis and two regression discontinuity designs, I find evidence that ELs’ access to content is limited by a constellation of factors, including prior academic achievement, institutional constraints, English proficiency level, and direct effects of EL classification. This study contributes to understanding of the experiences and opportunities of students learning English as well as theory regarding educational tracking.

scholarly journals Analyzing Student Learning Gains to Evaluate Differentiated Teacher Preparation for Fostering English Learners’ Achievement in Linguistically Diverse Classrooms

2018 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 372-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Ryan Lavery ◽  
Joyce Nutta ◽  
Alison Youngblood
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Preparation ◽  
Language Arts ◽  
English Learners ◽  
Teacher Candidates ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teacher Education Program ◽  
Secondary English ◽  
Nonnative Speakers Of English ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
K 12

Researchers compared pre/post classroom assessment scores of n = 8,326 K-12 students taught by n = 288 teacher candidates to determine if a differentiated teacher education program prepared them to support English learners’ (ELs) achievement in classrooms including native and nonnative speakers of English. Candidates in Group 1 comprised academic subject (secondary mathematics, science, and social studies) teacher candidates, who completed six teacher preparation courses with 15 key assignments that included a focus on ELs. Certification areas for Group 2 candidates include language arts instruction (elementary, early childhood, and secondary English language arts). Group 2 candidates completed from 12 to 15 courses with 41 to 50 key assignments that included a focus on ELs. Results indicate that teacher candidates in both groups helped narrow the gap between ELs and non-ELs from pretests to posttests. ELs performed no differently when taught by candidates from either group. Implications for teacher preparation are discussed.

The Effects of Inference Instruction on the Reading Comprehension of English Learners With Reading Comprehension Difficulties

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 259-270
Author(s):  
Colby Hall ◽  
Sharon Vaughn ◽  
Marcia A. Barnes ◽  
Alicia A. Stewart ◽  
Christy R. Austin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Language Arts ◽  
English Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Inference Generation ◽  
Language Arts Instruction ◽  
Rigorous Research ◽  
Business As Usual ◽  
Average Readers ◽  
Below Average Readers

Inference skill is one of the most important predictors of reading comprehension. Still, there is little rigorous research investigating the effects of inference instruction on reading comprehension. There is no research investigating the effects of inference instruction on reading comprehension for English learners with reading comprehension difficulties. The current study investigated the effects of small-group inference instruction on the inference generation and reading comprehension of sixth- and seventh-grade students who were below-average readers ( M = 86.7, SD = 8.1). Seventy-seven percent of student participants were designated limited English proficient. Participants were randomly assigned to 24, 40-min sessions of the inference instruction intervention ( n = 39) or to business-as-usual English language arts instruction ( n = 39). Membership in the treatment condition statistically significantly predicted higher outcome score on the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test Reading Comprehension subtest ( d = 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.16, 1.03]), but not on the other measures of inference skill.

scholarly journals Are Accommodations for English Learners on State Accountability Assessments Evidence-Based? A Multi-Study Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Rios ◽  
Samuel Ihlenfeldt ◽  
Carlos Chávez
Keyword(s):  
English Learners ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Dual Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Test Accommodations ◽  
State Accountability ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Time Scheduling ◽  
And Mathematics

The objectives of this two-part study were to: (a) investigate English learner (EL) accommodation practices on state accountability assessments of reading/English language arts and mathematics in grades 3-8, and (b) conduct a meta-analysis of EL accommodation effectiveness on improving test performance. Across all distinct testing programs, we found that at least one EL test accommodation was provided for both test content areas. The most popular accommodations provided were supplying students with word-to-word dual language dictionaries, reading aloud test directions and items in English, and allowing flexible time/scheduling. However, we found minimal evidence that testing programs provide practitioners with recommendations on how to assign relevant accommodations to EL test takers’ English proficiency level. To evaluate whether accommodations used in practice are supported with evidence of their effectiveness, a meta-analysis was conducted. On average, across 26 studies and 95 effect sizes (N = 11,069), accommodations improved test performance by 0.16 standard deviations. Both test content and sampling design were found to moderate accommodation effectiveness; however, none of the accommodations investigated were found to have intervention effects that were statistically different from zero. Overall, these results suggest that currently employed EL test accommodations lack evidence of their effectiveness.

scholarly journals Writing Instruction That Makes a Difference to English Learners

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (24) ◽  
pp. 77-96
Author(s):  
Juan J. Araujo ◽  
Carol D. Wickstrom
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Language Arts ◽  
Writing Instruction ◽  
English Learners ◽  
English Language Arts ◽  
English Language ◽  
Linguistic Knowledge ◽  
High School English ◽  
Language Arts Teachers ◽  
Arts Teachers

This paper presents the actions of two high school English language arts teachers as they engage in writing instruction with adolescent English learners. Using a naturalistic, qualitative methodology we investigate the actions two high school English language arts teachers engage in to meet the needs of their students. Findings suggest that embracing the students’ resources, building on linguistic knowledge, taking time to choose the right books and activities, being explicit about writer’s workshop and accepting its frenetic pace because it meets the students’ needs, and using the act of writing as a thinking activity, were the actions that made a difference to promote student success.

scholarly journals How Does English Language Learning Contribute to Social Mobility of Language Learners?

AL-TA LIM ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 236-242
Author(s):  
Imam Munandar
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Social Mobility ◽  
English Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Learning ◽  
Economic Implication ◽  
Significant Implication ◽  
Upper Level ◽  
Rule Out

A part from educational purposes, the learning of English worldwide has been found to have social and economic implication to its learners. It is seen as “social and economical mobilizer”. In many countries, English learners are seen as more educated and thus gain some degree of higher respectability in their society. English is desired, even required by companies in recruiting their employees. Those who know English are easier in getting desirable jobs compared to non-English knower. Learning English becomes a tool to socially move to upper level. This certainly has significant implication to Teaching English as Second or Foreign language. Many countries become well aware of this phenomenon and thus rule out English become a must-taught subject in schools.Keywords: Sociolinguistics, English language learning, social mobility, English language curriculum.Copyright © 2015 by Al-Ta'lim All right reserved

To Be or Not to Be EL

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 714-737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilana M. Umansky
Keyword(s):  
Language Arts ◽  
English Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Educational Opportunity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Language Minority ◽  
Language Minority Students ◽  
Bilingual Programs ◽  
English Immersion ◽  
Academic Trajectories

Across the United States, students who are deemed not to be proficient in English are classified as English learners (ELs). This classification entitles students to specialized services but may also result in stigmatization and barriers to educational opportunity. This article uses a regression discontinuity design to estimate the effect of EL classification in kindergarten on students’ academic trajectories. Furthermore, it explores whether the effect of EL classification differs for students in English immersion versus bilingual programs. I find that among language-minority students who enter kindergarten with relatively advanced English proficiency, EL classification results in a substantial negative net impact on math and English language arts test scores in Grades 2 through 10. This effect, however, is concentrated in English immersion classrooms.

scholarly journals English Language Proficiency and Content Assessment Performance: A Comparison of English Learners and Native English Speakers Achievement

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 198
Author(s):  
Suzi Keller Miley ◽  
Aarek Farmer
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Language Arts ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Learners ◽  
English Language Arts ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
Subsequent Performance ◽  
Scale Scores ◽  
Achievement Levels

As a result of the accountability requirements established in Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Educational Act (ESEA) legislation, English Learners (ELs) are expected to make progress in both content area academic achievement and English Language Proficiency (ELP). In Tennessee ELs progress is measured by administering WIDA-Access to assess English language proficiency, and Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) standardized assessments to measure content academic achievement. The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the performance levels of ELs who achieved the exit criteria on WIDA-Access state mandated English proficiency assessment and their subsequent performance on English Language Arts and Math TCAP assessments. Specifically, a comparison of EL’s achievement on TCAP was compared to the achievement on TCAP of non-ELs. Independent samples t-tests were performed on data from 302 elementary and middle school ELs and non-ELs that participated in WIDA-Access and TCAP assessments in 2015. Data analyses concluded that English Language Arts and Math TCAP scale scores were significantly different between ELs and non-ELs. Achievement levels in both English Language Arts TCAP and Math TCAP for ELs, who achieved the exit criteria on WIDA-Access, were lower than the achievement levels of non-ELs. Discussions of the findings in this study along with implications of using these assessments to measure ELs growth is provided in relation to the increased demands on measuring both the academic achievement and English language progress for ELs.

Re-visioning English language arts practices and writing outcomes through the remaking of Cinderella

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 366-386
Author(s):  
Tat Heung Choi ◽  
Ka Wa Ng
Keyword(s):  
Language Arts ◽  
Secondary Students ◽  
English Learners ◽  
English Language Arts ◽  
English Language ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Low Level

Purpose – This paper, which originates in an English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) classroom activity in Hong Kong, aims to explore English learners’ expressive and creative potential in writing by studying their work in the literary narrative genre. Design/methodology/approach – A group of upper secondary students (15-16 years of age) with limited English resources and competence was enlisted to remake a folktale with visual and written prompts. Findings – The writing samples demonstrate that these low-level EFL writers are able to refashion the narrative elements, and to communicate meanings for their own purposes. They exhibit logicality and problem-solving skills in their attempts to challenge and transform idea and to include themes of interest to them. There is also evidence of creative play with language in their use of dialogues and figures of speech. Research limitations/implications – These writing outcomes suggest the need to re-vision English language arts practices in increasingly diverse education systems. Genre-based instruction, with its emphasis on “writing to mean” as a social activity supported by learning to use language, could lead to widening EFL learners’ access to genre knowledge and to greater life chances. Practical implications – A linguistics-based pedagogy scaffolding less able EFL writers while they learn to build effective narratives is identified as a way forward. Originality/value – Although the idea of using narratives to engage EFL learners in writing is not entirely new, this paper contributes to the field by responding to low-level learners’ writing that goes beyond linguistic “correctness”, and developing strategies for supporting creativity and language play.

scholarly journals Playing to Teachers’ Strengths: Using Multiple Measures of Teacher Effectiveness to Improve Teacher Assignments

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay Fox
Keyword(s):  
Language Arts ◽  
Elementary School Teachers ◽  
English Language ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Urban School District ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
Multiple Measures ◽  
Differential Effectiveness ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Value Added Measures

Current uses of value-added modeling largely ignore or assume away the potential for teachers to be more effective with one type of student than another or in one subject than another. This paper explores the stability of value-added measures across different subgroups and subjects using administrative data from a large urban school district. For elementary school teachers, effectiveness measures are highly stable across subgroups, with correlations upward of 0.9. The estimated cross-subject correlation between math and English language arts is around 0.7, suggesting some differential effectiveness by subject. To understand the magnitude of this correlation, I simulate targeted re-sorting of teachers to classrooms based on their comparative advantage. The results suggest that using multiple measures of value added to specialize teachers by subject could produce small average increases in student achievement, and larger increases for some students.

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