Encroachment in English Learner Education: Implications for Equity

• In Event: Equitable Allocation of School Funding

Abstract

Federal legislation, court rulings, and some state legislation mandate that school districts provide English learners (ELs) with support services to achieve challenging academic standards. However, many districts report receiving insufficient funds specific to EL education to meet such standards. As a result, districts may use unrestricted, general education funds to meet their legal requirements to serve ELs. We draw on administrative data from Michigan to demonstrate the extent to which districts must draw from their unrestricted funds to provide ELs with an adequate education, and show how districts capacity to do so are influenced by their unique characteristics.

Authors

• Caroline Bartlett, Michigan State University
  Presenting Author

• David E. Klayton, Michigan State University
  Presenting Author

• Ajay Srikanth, American Institutes for Research
  Non-Presenting Author