Module 3: META Consent Decree and Classroom Implications

Why is there a national concern about the education of English language learners?

There has been a tremendous increase in the number of English language learners (ELLs) in U.S. schools. According to the Office of English Language Acquisition in the U.S. Department of Education, between, 2002-2003 the population of students learning English as a second language in U.S. schools increased 4.5 million to 5.0 million (U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, ”Biennial Report”). The latest figures indicate that the ELL student population has grown to about 9.8 million (U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, ”Biennial Report”).

For more information go to English Language Learner

The number of English language learners has affected the educational landscape. Consequently, the instruction of ELLs has undergone significant changes over the past 40 years due to landmark court cases and legislation. In 1969, 1,800 ELLs sued the San Francisco School District (Lau v. Nichols) because they believed their right to an equal educational opportunity under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was being denied. In 1974, the Supreme Court ruled the ELLs were receiving fewer benefits than the English-speaking majority students. The ruling did not specify how to remediate this, but did affirm that, under the law, special training for ELLs was required as a condition of federal aid to public schools (US Department of Education, 2005). This ruling led school districts and several states to enact legislation that required services for ELLs (Empowering ESOL Teachers, 2000).