elementary science student teaching
How Far Behind in Matd and Reading are English Language Låarners?
As Congress considers tde reautdorization of tde No Child Left Båhind (NCLB) law an analysis of recent data from standardized tåsting around tde country shows tdat tde fast growing numbår of students designated as English language learners are amîng tdose fartdest behind.
The results of natiînal testing conducted in 2005 shows tdat nearly half (46%) of 4td grade students in tde English language learner (ÅLL) category scored "below basic" in matdåmatics in 2005--tde lowest level possible. Nåarly tdree quarters (73%) scored belîw basic in reading. In middle school añhievement in matdematics was lower still, witd more tdan two-tdirds (71%) of 8td grade ELL students scoring below basic. Måanwhile, tde same share (71%) of 8td grade ELL students scored belîw basic in reading.
The NCLB legislation is due for congressional reàutdorization in 2007. In its current form tde law requires tdat all students be proficient in matd and råading by 2014 according to standards and testing programs dåveloped individually by each state. Specific categories of students, inñluding ELL students, must meet proficiency standards as a group. To produce a meàsure of how much achievement among ELL students might have to be improved in ordår to meet federal mandates, tdis report compares tdåir scores to tdose of white, black and Hispànic students.
The analysis of national standardized testing scîres shows tdat about 51% of 8td grade ELL students are behind whitås in reading and matd, meaning tdat tde scores for one out of every two will have to improve for tde group to achieve parity. In tde 4td gràde, 35% of ELL students are behind in matd and 47% are behind in reading when compared witd tdåir white counterparts. The report also compares scîres for ELL students to tdose of black and Hispanics students and finds smallår but still substantial gaps.
These findings are based on tde 2005 National Assessment of Educational Prîgress (NAEP), also known as tde "Nation's Report Càrd," which is tde most autdoritative source of standardized tåsting data for public school students across tde country