A Program Evaluation of an English Learner Program in a Southwestern Connecticut Urban School District
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Authors
Cummings, Casey
Issue Date
2020-09-25
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
English learners
Alternative Title
Abstract
The need for academic supports for English Learners enrolled in public schools has increased significantly in the last decade. Accountability for success in school expands yearly and can impact crucial components such as staffing and funding. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation of an English Learner Program designed to support students in one school district. This study utilized a mixed method program evaluation design to determine the impact of an English Learner Program on the teaching and learning taking place in a southwestern Connecticut urban school district.
The purpose of this research was to examine the impact of the English Learner Program after all the components were initially implemented. The components, based on the Second Language Acquisition theory, included professional development for all staff in the district, intervention for English Learners based on language acquisition, and progress monitoring of student performance. Data collected detailed the impact that the English Learner Program had on the progression of instruction for English Learners and their academic achievement. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected and analyzed from numerous sources within the district including teachers and students. The findings concluded that the simultaneous implementation of the theory driven components of the program impacted teachers to deliver effective instruction for English Learners, and caused the growth in Language Assessment Scale scores for elementary English Learner students between 2018 and 2019. The results provided the district with specific information about the current impact and future implementation of the English Learner Program.
Description
Citation
C. Cummings, "A Program Evaluation of an English Learner Program in a Southwestern Connecticut Urban School District", Ph.D. dissertation, School of Education, Univ. of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT, 2020.