Bridging the Gap: How Specialized Teacher Education Helps English Learners Succeed
Read the full article here When any student walks into a classroom, they deserve an equal opportunity to learn and thrive. Yet for millions of English learners (ELs) in American schools, this fundamental right has remained elusive. Our research at the University of Central Florida shows that specially prepared teachers can make a significant difference in closing this persistent achievement gap. The Challenge English Learners Face In classrooms across America, English learners consistently score lower on academic assessments compared to their native English-speaking peers. This isn't because these students lack ability or potential—it's a complex educational challenge that requires innovative solutions. For years, the standard approach was to remove ELs from their regular classrooms for specialized English instruction. While well-intentioned, this approach had an unintended consequence: it often led regular classroom teachers to feel less responsible for ELs' learni...