Nowadays all schools must be prepared to meet the challenge of an increasingly diverse student population, including many students who are not proficient in English. The effectiveness of various program models for language minority students remains the subject of controversy, and there are several factors to consider when selecting a program…

The organization of English as a second language (ESL) programs varies greatly, according to the student population, individual student characteristics, and district resources. They can be broadly categorized as either stand-alone ESL or ESL-plus. In general, stand-alone programs group limited-English-proficient (LEP) students together and…

This paper presents findings from a state-sponsored study of the adult education needs of limited-English-proficient (LEP) adults in California. The findings relate primarily to the situation of the over 2.3-million Spanish-speaking LEP adults, and within this population, to Mexican immigrants. Data were gathered in household surveys in three…

A survey of 56 Nassau County (New York) school districts elicited information on demographics, assessment, educational records, staffing, program structure, and instructional and support services for limited-English-proficient (LEP) students. Programs surveyed included 20 prekindergarten, 53 elementary, 45 middle/junior high school, and 44 senior…