Promoting Academic Achievement Among English Learners: A Guide to the Research

The growing numbers of English language learners (ELLs) in our schools pose increasing challenges and opportunities for U.S. educators and policy makers. A generation or two ago, the achievement of children who came to school knowing little or no English was not a prominent national issue. Today it is.

This comprehensive resource explores the research on promoting academic success among ELLs. It provides educators with a firm basis for making decisions related to adopting or developing effective policies and programmes for ELLs.


Promoting Academic Achievement Among English Learners provides illustrative scenarios throughout to accompany research-based discussions about:


- What we know about using ELLs' home language in their academic programme and findings about bilingual education

- ELLs learning to speak English and simultaneously learning academic content, a vital aspect of their educational agenda

- School- and district-level factors that affect ELLs' achievement

- Sociocultural factors, including the influence of parents and families

- A broad framework for improving the academic achievement of students who come to school not speaking English well or not speaking English at all.