When your child is an English language learner, it can be hard to understand if they are learning the language properly and what they need to do to be reclassified as fluent and proficient. Here’s a quick guide to how schools classify students as English language learners, what they must provide for students to help them learn English, what their criteria are for reclassifying students as proficient, and why reclassification is important.
Why is my child classified as an English Learner?
When children first enroll in school, their parents or guardians are asked to fill out a questionnaire about the language they learned when they first started speaking, the language they speak most often at home, and the language their parents and guardians use most often when talking to them.
If a language other than English is used at home, the school must assess the student’s English proficiency within 30 days of enrollment by giving them a test called the California English Proficiency Assessment. The test measures a student’s ability to read, write, speak, and understand spoken English.
If the test results show that the child speaks, listens, writes, and reads English fluently at an age-appropriate level, the school classifies them as “Beginning Fluent English Proficient.” If test results indicate that they cannot speak, listen, read, or write English fluently at an age-appropriate level, the school categorizes them as English Learners.
Students classified as English Learners must retake the ELPAC test each spring until the school determines that they have reached English proficiency.
Students with severe cognitive disabilities take a different test, the California Alternate English Proficiency Assessment.
What kind of instruction must schools provide to English learners?
Schools are required to provide instruction to English learners to help them learn English, which is called English language development.
English language development must be provided at the same time that other subjects are taught in the classroom (this is called integrated language development) or it must be focused on learning English at specific times during the school day (this is called designated language development). The state does not dictate specific class times, but rather expects schools to make decisions based on the needs of their students.
You can watch some English Language Development videos prepared by the California Department of Education for different grade levels here.
What will the school decide when my child is proficient in English?
Schools must use four reclassification criteria to determine if a student is proficient in English. Students must score a 4 on the total ELPAC or, if they have a significant cognitive disability, a 3 on the alternate ELPAC.
In addition, the district or charter school must consider teacher evaluations and parent input, and observe how the student performs in academic subjects such as math and English language arts compared to their English-speaking peers. Each school district or charter school has its own rules for measuring these last three criteria.
How long will it take for my child to become fluent in English?
Research shows that it usually takes four to seven years for students to become proficient in academic English.
What if it takes my child longer to learn English?
If a student has been reclassified for longer than six years, they will be categorized as a long-term English learner. Long-term English language learners often struggle in school because while they usually know how to speak English, they have not yet mastered writing and reading academic English.
As long as students are still classified as English language learners, schools must provide them with English language development programs. If they are in middle school or high school, they may not have time to take elective classes such as art, music, or precollege courses.
What if my child is reclassified?
When a student is reclassified as “fluent proficient in English,” they are no longer considered an English language learner and are no longer required to take English language development classes. The child’s school must still monitor their academic progress for the next four years.
My child is enrolled in a bilingual immersion program. How will this affect their English language development?
Research shows that bilingual immersion programs can be very effective in helping students learn English. Sometimes these programs take longer to teach students English, but by the end of elementary school, more students reach fluency in these programs than in English-only programs.
In addition, bilingual immersion programs help students maintain their native language and learn to read and write in their native language, making them bilingual.
What can I do as a parent to make sure my child is learning English?
Look for your child’s ELPAC scores, which should be sent home by mail or can be found on the online district portal. Pay attention to all four sections (listening, speaking, reading, and writing).
Talk to your child’s teacher about how well they are doing in listening, speaking, writing, and reading in English, what skills they should improve, and what kind of English language development they are getting at school.
Ask when the ELPAC test will take place and remind your child of the importance of doing their best on this test. Sometimes students get tired of taking tests, especially when they are older, and they don’t understand the importance of doing well on them so they can be reclassified as fluent in English.
Stick to reading, speaking and singing with your child in their mother tongue. This will help them acquire skills that can be translated into English and help them become fully bilingual.