Teachers of English learners need specialized training to provide effective instruction that empowers students to develop the language skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. They also play a critical role in celebrating and affirming the linguistic and cultural assets of multilingual learners.
Why Better Preparation and Support of Teachers of English Learners Matters
English learners are one of the fastest-growing populations of students in our schools, with over five million English learners (ELs) enrolled in public schools,1 an increase of 35% over the last two decades.2 The teacher workforce is not keeping pace, and student needs are not being met.
On the most recent NAEP 4th grade reading results, only 10% of ELs were reading at proficient levels, compared to 37% of their peers3—because we are not effectively teaching them. Students who are in the process of acquiring English need a teacher who has specialized training in language acquisition to support them.
States and districts often find it difficult to fill vacancies to teach English learners and should consider incentives such as scholarships to pay for preparation or higher pay to attract and retain teachers with this skill set.
Are we setting up English learners for reading success?
Every year, numerous English learners pass through our education system without getting the help they need. And for each one, a teacher is left feeling frustrated. We cannot leave aspiring teachers to fend for themselves in learning to teach English learners.
National Center for Education Statistics. (2022). English Learners in Public Schools. Condition of Education. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cgf
