English Language Learner

The education system is funny sometimes. Because English is Carlos' second language, he is classified as an "English Language Learner" or "ELL". He has been in ELL classes since pre-school. This past school year, we asked to have him discharged from the program because he was being taken out of class regularly and missing math. He didn't like the ELL classes, and it seems to us that his English skills are pretty darn good. He has some expressive issues, but he knows the words. It has nothing to do with language. The state of Arizona recently passed a mandate that all kids eligible for ELL will be in ELL class 4 hours each day starting this next school year. This includes Carlos. Parents have the option to have their kids opt out which we will do. The really crazy thing about all of this is Carlos took the Terra Nova test in April, and his score in language was 90 percent. That means his language skills are better than 90 percent of the other kids tested across the country! Go figure!

Update 8/26/08 - Carlos passed his recent ELL test. He's been labeled as "proficient". He will be tested over the next 2 years to make sure he stays that way. In the meantime, it means no ELL classes at school!