English Language Learner KnowledgeBase for Administrators & Teachers

English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century (ELPA21)

ELPA21 is a group of states designing and developing an assessment system for ELLs based on a set of language proficiency standards.

English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS)

ESSA requires each state to have in place ELPS. The standards describe the proficiency level descriptors and student expectations for ELLs. School districts are required to implement ELPS as an integral part of each subject in the required curriculum. States not part of any consortia have developed their own ELPS aligned to their learning standards

Research-Based Recommendations for Instruction and Academic Interventions

This link is to a Center on Instruction guide providing research-based recommendations for instruction and academic interventions. The document may be useful to policymakers, administrators and K-12 teachers.

World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA)

This website shows the English language proficiency developed for this consortia of 32 states, as well assessment models to identify and monitor language proficiency advancement of ELLs.

Effective Instruction of ELLs

This website provides a series of modules on language acquisition and promising practices to instruct ELLs with special needs.

Effective Instructional Practices

This resource is excerpted from, "The Education of Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Students: Effective Instructional Practices," and is authored by Dr. Eugene E. Garcia.

Future of Immigrant Children

This article identifies and describes comprehensive reform models and their components for ELL students. The full journal, Immigrant Children, explores the issues, demography, living arrangements, K-12 educational outcomes, community college and the adaptation of migrant children, as well as poverty and program participation.

Understanding Language

Stanford University received a grant to develop resources for educators working with ELLs. This website offers a variety of reports and instructional strategies for teachers working with ELLs.

CREDE-Developed Program for Elementary Education

As communities deal with changing demographics, such change impacts the local school district, as well. To understand what proactive school leaders did to promote interethnic relations, the Center for Research on Education, Diversity & Excellence (CREDE) conducted a study to identify examples of effective practices. The summarized content is useful for district and school leadership as they deal with blending students of diverse cultures into a compatible school community.

Colorin Colorado

This link to the Colorin Colorado website provides useful information, strategies, activities and resources for all teachers of ELLs. This website also presents a broad series of materials useful in the implementation of a language assistance program.

National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition & Language Instruction Educational Programs

This link is to the National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition (NCELA) website. As noted at its website, NCELA "is authorized to collect, analyze, synthesize and disseminate information about language instruction educational programs for limited English proficient children and related programs. Priority is given to information on academic content and English proficiency assessments and accountability systems." The NCELA website also provides national and state data, research reports and resources related to ELLs.