A Matter of Design: English Learner Program Models in K-12 Education

There are approximately five million students in United States’ schools who are classified as English Learners (ELs).  They speak a wide variety of languages and are educated in different ways depending on the school they attend. In this Migration Policy Institute (MPI) brief, “A Matter of Design: English Learner Program Models in K-12 Education,” author Julie Sugarman outlines the most common K-12 educational models used to improve English proficiency: dual language, bilingual/transitional bilingual, and English only. The report also includes a guide to help administrators and teachers choose the model best suited to local circumstance.

Dual language programs seek to build biliteracy in both the students’ home languages and in English with at least 50 percent of instruction taught in the home language. Bilingual/Transitional Bilingual models also utilize EL students’ home languages in the classroom but focus on building English proficiency and literacy. English-only programs focus on building literacy in English without the use of students’ home languages in instruction. According to the report, schools may choose different approaches to educating ELs based on factors like students’ needs, teacher availability, state policies, and/or educational research. Complicating matters further is the trend toward enlisting properly trained, subject matter teachers as key participants in EL learning programs. Current research is inconclusive about which models benefit students best, so it is crucial to consider factors that can shape program effectiveness and outcomes. Given that the critical analysis of these models can be extensive, MPI recommends starting with the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights Castaneda standard, which requires instructional approaches be based on sound theory and demonstrated effectiveness, and be implemented with sufficient resources. (Deb D'Anastasio for The Immigrant Learning Center’s Public Education Institute)

Download now or view online