English Language Learners in America's Great City Schools: Demographics, Achievement, and Staffing

In 2013, the Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS) published the first-ever report on English language learners (ELLs) enrolled in member districts, reporting on a range of indicators in addition to ELL enrollment and languages spoken by such students. This report updates most of the data presented in the 2013 Council ELL report, shedding light once again on ELL enrollment, student performance, staffing and professional development, along with Title III allocations. Consistent with the findings in the 2013 Council ELL report, English language learners continue to be the fastest-growing demographic group in U.S. public schools. The ELLs attending schools in the member districts of the Council of the Great City Schools account for nearly one-quarter of all ELLs in the nation. Specifically, in SY 2015-16, Council-member districts enrolled about 1.2 million ELLs in Grades K-12--or 25.0 percent of the 4.9 million estimated ELLs in the nation's K-12 public schools. This new report by the Council presents the results of a yearlong effort to compile data on ELL enrollment and programs in the Great City school districts. Much of the data were collected from the membership via survey in 2017. Over 85 percent of the membership responded. [For the 2013 report, see ED543305.]