California`s English learner students are a great amount of peers that are characterized by a wide diversity. They have difficulties in studies, because their native language is not English. California`s educators are doing their best to help these students to overcome the gap and make them feel more comfortable in their school environment.
The research asserts that about 25 per cent of California`s students in public schools are English learners (ELs). The general public, policymakers and educators have the great concern of ELs in order to provide them with the professional support. California`s kindergartens are the first stage of ELs` studies, where children pass their first English Language Development Test, which helps to identify their level of reading, writing and speaking abilities in English. This group of students is a diverse group. Thus, 85 percent of students speak Spanish as their native language, 3 percent — Vietnamese and about 1 percent — Filipino. The poverty rate of non-English students is between 74 to 85 percent, while this figure is 21 percent among native school-aged children in California (Hill 2). The number of ELs varies, because many students come from the other states or abroad annually, though the majority is native-born students. Most of the California`s English learner students live in urban areas and attend schools in their areas. According to the research, the largest amount of English learners is concentrated in San Diego and Los Angeles. Standardized tests are provided to estimate students` level of the English language in order to continue further studies in schools and achieve scores of Basic or above in English language and Arts.
ELs policies ensure the public in California that attention is made to the improvement of educational programs for English learners. The government intends to overview such issues as the question of accountability and funding, the implementation of new standards, and reclassification policy. These would help to provide further development on the EL policies. Thus, the federal and state governments provide extra financial support for schools with ELs. New funding would create better opportunities and new approach for reclassification of EL students. In order to increase funding policymakers are searching for effective tools to distribute the money within districts and schools in an appropriate and effective manner. Some authorities are worrying about better outcomes and monitoring of these funds on long-term success. By implementing extra financing for schools with English learner students, the government authorities and teachers hope to maintain the future of ELs education.
According to the research, it is not clear how much money is needed for the reclassification and funding of EL students. All authorities are sure that education of non-English students is more expensive than English Only students. The available information asserts that California`s English learner students have notable success in their studies. Though, there are some concerns regarding funding and accountability, academic instructions, reclassification and student success (Hill 4). Common Core Standards may help to solve these problems and will make the authorities of potential trade-offs. Policymakers need to provide those programs and policies, which will help the students to improve their educational level and be able to continue their future studies with ease. The development of the new standards will be a good opportunity, therefore, to link academic instruction.
In conclusion, it is worth mentioning that California`s English learner students are of the great concern of the federal and state governments. This issue has captured the minds of California`s educators and policymakers. They are searching for appropriate tools to support ELs in order to improve their educational level. Different programs and approaches are developed to overcome the gap among English learner students and English Only students.
California`s English learner students are a great amount of peers that are characterized by a wide diversity. They have difficulties in studies, because their native language is not English. California`s educators are doing their best to help these students to overcome the gap and make them feel more comfortable in their school environment. The further research is needed in order to succeed.