Reclassification Among Secondary Students Categorized as "Short-Term" and "Long-Term" English Learners

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 6
  In Roundtable Session: Policies and Assessment Mechanisms Affecting Bi- and Multilingual Learners

Abstract

We examined how likely it is for English learners (ELs) to be reclassified as fluent English proficient (RFEP). We differentiated outcomes for two groups of ELs: short term EL (STELs) and long term ELs (LTELs)—respectively those who have remained classified as ELs less than and more than six years. Using data from over 1,150 EL students, we constructed probability maps—visualizations of the conditional probabilities of a student to become an LTEL or an RFEP in each of the four high school years. We found that the majority of students who entered Grade 9 as ELs were not reclassified during their time in high school.

Authors

• Paulina Biernacki, Stanford University

• Jennifer Altavilla, Boston University

• Guillermo Solano-Flores, Stanford University