Looking at the Educational Proficiency Gap for English Language Learners in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Association for Bilingual Education (MABE) is joining the Massachusetts Association of Speakers of Other Languages (MATSOL) in requesting the Massachusetts Board of Education of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to take immediate action to address the findings from the Gaston Institute Report (2009) as well as recent findings indicating the growing achievement gap for English Language Learners (ELLs).

DO YOU KNOW?
ESL Waivers are one of the most requested at the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
(Mserpa@Lesley.edu)

DO YOU KNOW?
Only 12.5% of teachers with ELLs in their classrooms have had even a day’s worth of English Learner training the last three years.
(National Assessment for Educational Statistics)

DO YOU KNOW?
Placement in special education has almost doubled in the last six years for ELLs in MA.
• 9.76% of total of 48, 485 ELLs in MA in 2001-2002
• 15.41% of total of 55,871 ELLS in MA in 2007-2008
(MA DESE, data reflects students enrolled as of October SIMS of each year.)

DO YOU KNOW?
There has been an increase in dropout rates for ELLs.
• 2002-2003, drop out rates for ELLs was 6.1%
• 2006-2007, drop out rate for ELLs is 10.4%

• Non-ELLs drop put rate in 2002-03 was 3.2%
• Non-ELLs dropout rate in 2006-07 was 3.6%
(MA DESE, retrieved October 2008)

DO YOU KNOW?
ELLs did not meet the Yearly Progress (AYP).
Only 5% of 8th graders scored at or above proficiency in reading
(National Assessment of Educational Progress, 2007)

DO YOU KNOW?
Programs impact outcomes.

• Students in Two-Way Bilingual Programs scored highest on standardized tests in English,
•Students in late exit and bilingual and content ESL programs scored next,
• Followed by students in early – exit bilingual and content ESL,
•Then by students in early exit bilingual and traditional ESL,
•And finally by students in ESL programs
(Ortiz, 2008 an Collier research)

DO YOU KNOW?

Your advocacy and support are necessary and there are key action steps that you can take.
• Contact your State Senator and Representative and the MA Education Committee to ask for a hearing of House Bill # 486 submitted by State Representative Jeffrey Sánchez.
• Disseminate the findings from the Gastón Institute, “English Language Learners in Boston Public Schools in the Aftermath of Policy Change: Enrollment and Educational Outcomes, AY2003-AY2006” (http://www.gaston.umb.edu/)
• Recruit colleagues to become active advocates for ELLs.
• Use your Internet sites and address book to post information and upcoming events.

For additional information or to learn of other advocacy opportunities you may contact Phyllis Hardy (Phyllis_Hardy@brown.edu) or Maria L. Wilson-Portuondo (mwportuondo@gmail.com)