As the demand for English Learner (EL) instruction grows across the United States, the vast majority of K-12 educators (80 percent) believe EL instruction is a priority for their school or district, according to the results of the 2017 EL Education Report, a new survey conducted by learning science company McGraw-Hill Education. Educators also indicate that more professional development and different types of learning materials are needed to meet the needs of EL students.

According to the survey results, educators see EL enrollment increasing steadily in their schools or districts, with more rapid growth in the Northeast, Midwest and Southern regions compared to the West. Of the languages spoken by EL students in the classroom, educators report that Spanish continues to be the most common. Educators also report that they have EL students who speak Arabic, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Tagalog and Russian among many others, indicating ongoing demand for EL instruction that accommodates a diverse group of students and languages spoken in the classroom.

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“EL students make up one of the fastest-growing student populations in the United States, and educators and school leaders have to think differently about how to meet their needs,” said Heath Morrison, President of McGraw-Hill Education’s School Group. “With the diverse demographics of today’s student population, it is imperative that educators have access to ongoing professional development and training, as well as a robust array of resources to accommodate the diverse needs of EL students and to help them succeed in the classroom and beyond.”

Read the Article Survey Results