English-Language Learners

The term English-language learners (ELL) refers to national-origin-minority students who are limited in English language proficiency. This may include children born in this country who are exposed to another language in their home, or primarily speak another language in their home, as well as students who were born outside the United States.

According to the U.S. Census, the number of children ages 5 through 17 who speak a language other than English at home doubled between 2000 and 2010. ELL is the common acronym for this student population. Over the past 20 years, the population of ELLs in American schools has increased by 160 percent, compared to a 20 percent increase in the general student population.

The U.S. Department of Education defines ELLs as national-origin-minority students who are limited in English language proficiency. The term ELL is often preferred over the term limited English proficient (LEP), as it highlights accomplishments rather than deficits. Another term for these students is language minority students. As a group, ELLs represent one of the fastest-growing [Page 792]groups among the school-aged population in the United States. Estimates place the ELL population at over 9.9 million students, with roughly 5.5 million students classified as Limited English Proficient by virtue of their participation in Title III assessments of English language proficiency. This group of students speaks over 400 languages, with Spanish being the most common (spoken by more than 70 percent of ELLs). It is projected that English-language learners will represent 30 percent of the school-aged population by 2015. The largest and fastest-growing population of ELLs are students who immigrated before kindergarten and the U.S.-born children of immigrants.