The Center on Education Policy (CEP) report, Has Progress Been Made in Raising Achievement for English Language Learners?, finds that some states have seen increases in the number of English language learners (ELLs) meeting proficiency standards under No Child Left Behind (NCLB), while others have seen decreases. The report notes some limitations in the data it uses. The CEP report, however, has some specific weaknesses in its research methods that undermine its findings. The CEP report seriously underestimates the significance of language of instruction as a source of error in ELL achievement test scores. Further, it errs in implying that its findings justify an inference of a causal relationship between observed changes in percentages of ELLs meeting achievement benchmarks and improvements in academic achievement for ELLs. Given the limitations in the data, it is inappropriate to draw conclusions from the data summarized in the CEP report.

Suggested Citation: MacSwan, J. (2010). Review of "Has Progress Been Made in Raising Achievement for English Language Learners?" Boulder and Tempe: Education and the Public Interest Center & Education Policy Research Unit. Retrieved [date] from http://epicpolicy.org/thinktank/review-progress-ELL