Comptroller Finds 'Profound Failures' in City Services for English Language Learners

"An audit released Monday found that a "a significant percentage" of the school system's English Language Learners (ELLs) hadn't received the services they're legally entitled to, such as required courses or a minimum number of instructional minutes.They have also been denied other legally mandated services, the audit found, such as being identified as ELLs through the Home Language Identification Survey, being tested and placed through the New York State Identification Test for English Language Learners,"

"Since Spring of 2022, over 237,000 migrants have come to New York City, many from Latin America, and their kids have been filling the classrooms of the city's public schools, which saw 25,081 new ELL students, a 16.8 percent jump. ELL students represent 19 percent of total student enrollment, according to the Comptroller's office. Many migrant students are also living, or have lived, in the city's shelter system,"

A city comptroller's audit found profound failures in identifying and providing legally required services to English Language Learners (ELLs) in New York City public schools. A significant percentage of ELLs did not receive required courses or minimum instructional minutes and were denied mandated services such as Home Language Identification Survey identification, New York State ELL testing and placement, and access to bilingual education or English as a New Language programs. These failures disproportionately impact Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Bengali, and Arabic speakers, with Spanish-speaking students comprising 67 percent of ELLs. Since Spring 2022, over 237,000 migrants arrived, producing 25,081 new ELLs (a 16.8 percent increase); ELLs now represent 19 percent of enrollment. Many migrant students have lived in the city shelter system. New York City Public Schools disputes the audit's findings.

Read at City Limits