A New Look at America’s English Language Learners
Monday, February 2, 2009 2:07Nebraska: In 1996, Crete had 59 English Language Learners. By 2006, it had 560-a nearly 850 percent increase-and they now constitute one-third of the total student enrollment. But it’s certainly not the only community in this country with sky-rocketing numbers of Spanish speakers. Across the United States, but especially in the new “gateway” states (which include heartland states like Nebraska and almost the entire Southeast), the sudden jump in English Language Learners (ELLs) has been both dramatic and challenging.