Dive Brief:
- Indianapolis Public Schools has 4,500 students who are still learning English, and a new proposal would create a school that takes a holistic approach and specializes in ESL.
- The school would be modeled on programs that already exist in cities like New York with large immigrant populations and double as a community center, helping families get healthcare and offering adult education programs.
- Such schools are very expensive to open and maintain; this one would launch next fall if the proposal is approved by the school board.
Dive Insight:
ELL programs have been evolving lately, with states like Oregon instituting innovative models like "Language for All," which includes increased collaboration with community partners and parents and blended funding streams. In that program, ELL students aren't singled out for individualized language and reading instruction. Instead, all elementary school students participate every day in oral-language development time. Another example of a similar model is the Columbus Global Academy, a school founded in 2009. in Ohio.
In the U.S., educators are divided on English-only learning versus bilingual inclusivity, although bilingualism advocacy appears to be a growing trend. According to the Institute of Education Statistics, in the District of Columbia, Alaska, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas, "10% or more of public school students were English language learners, with ELL students constituting 22.8% of public school enrollment in California."
