According to the National Education Association (NEA), English language learners (ELLs) are the US’ fastest-growing student group, currently making up 10% of K-12 students. The NEA predicts that by 2025, the number of ELLs nationwide will grow to 1 out of every 4 students, an exciting and challenging shift. With over 400 languages spoken by K-12 students across the country, creating educational equity for ELLs is not a want; it’s a need.
Across the Providence Public School District (PPSD) in Rhode Island’s capital, ELLs knock the national average out of the park, making up 31% of the 20K+ student population.
Because of the larger-than-average ELL population, PPSD leadership knew that the path toward creating equitable learning experiences for learners had to begin with providing equitable support for their teachers. To effectively meet the unique needs of ELLs, district leaders made it a priority to first ensure that they had sufficient English as a Second Language (ESL) Certified teachers and support staff across the entire district.
In partnership with engage2learn at the start of the 2021-2022 school year, district leaders and their teams built a coaching and growth plan to equip educators to support ELLs equitably through aligned district-wide priorities, goals, teacher training, and instructional methods. Read the case study to learn more about PPSD’s progress as a result of engage2learn coaching!
“We didn’t have the capacity with our in-house coaches to meet the need before. Now we’re using engage2learn to support us and our teachers through one-on-one coaching centered on the practices that teachers are now implementing in the classroom.”
Jennifer Efflandt
Executive Director of Multilingual Learners, Providence Public Schools
First published February 27, 2024.