English Language Learners (ELLs) and  LD

The number of non-English speaking students in U.S. classrooms continues to rise, underscoring the need for accurate assessments of their risk for learning disabilities or other learning difficulties, and increasing the focus on implementing effective instructional practices for these students at all levels. On this page, NCLD offers current information on the challenges English language learners face in school and valuable research findings, resources, and supports for parents, children, and professionals.

Introduction and Background Information
Research
Additional Resources on the Web 

Introduction and Background Information:

LD Talk: Enhancing Early Literacy for English Learners
Featured expert Dr. Jana Echevarria discusses the challenges of early literacy for English Language Learners in this March 29, 2005 LD Chat. Learn about ways to develop academic English in young children and how parents can enhance learning at home.  For a full list of LD Talk transcripts, click here.

back to top

Research:

Effective Instruction for Learning Disabled or At-Risk English-Language Learners: An Integrative Synthesis of the Empirical and Professional Knowledge Bases
This document offers an executive summary of findings from the Eugene Research Institute, University of Oregon.

 back to top

Additional Resources on the Web:

Making NCLB Work for English-Language Learners
National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
This report examines the impact of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) on students who are English language learners (ELLs).  The report concludes that, while the law has not been implemented adequately and many states try to bypass the law by exempting ELLs from test score and student outcome reports, NCLB holds considerable promise for closing the achievement gap between ELLs and other students. 

Development of English Literacy in Spanish-Speaking Children
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the Institute of Education Sciences of the Department of Education.

¡Colorín Colorado!
Information, activities, and advice for Spanish-speaking parents and educators of English language learners.

Accommodations for English Language Learners
National Center for Research on Education, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST)
This study measures the effectiveness, validity, differential impact, and feasibility of accommodations for ELLs.

The READ Institute
The Institute for Research in English Acquisition and Development
The READ Institute supports research on English language learning and on effective schooling for language minority children in the United States.

Office of English Language Acquistion, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students - OELA
U.S. Department of Education
THe OELA Web site includes various elements of school reform in programs designed to assist the language minority agenda.

National Symposium on Learning Disabilities in English Language Learners
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
A summary of the Symposium proceedings, held Oct. 14-15, 2003, in Washington, D.C.  The goal of the symposium was to determine how best to apply knowledge about identifying and assessing learning disabilities in native English-speaking students to the identification and assessment of learning disabilities in ELLs.
 
Online Survey on Instructional Strategies for English Language Learners with Disabilities National Center on Educational Outcomes

Culturally Competent Assessment of English Language Learners: Strategies for School Personnel
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

back to top