Alaska: ELL Resources

As of the 2016-2017 school year, Alaska's schools were home to more than 14,500 English language learners. As of the 2014-2015 school year, the most common five languages spoken by ELLs in Alaska were Yupik, Spanish, Filipino, Inupiaq, and Samoan. (U.S. Dept. of Education, National Center for Education Statistics)
Alaska is a member of WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment), joining in 2011. WIDA is a consortium of states dedicated to the design and implementation of high standards and equitable educational opportunities for English language learners.
State ELL Resources
State Agency: Alaska Department of Education & Early Development
ELL Website: English Language Learner and Title III Resources
ELP Standards & Assessment
ELP Standards: WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards
ELP Assessment: WIDA-ACCESS for ELLs
Statewide Standards-Based Assessment
Assessment: Alaska Student Assessments
Accommodations: Alaska Accomodations Information
Additional Information
NCELA: Title III Information
WIDA: Alaska Contact Information
Common Core State Standards: Yes
ESSA: Alaska ESSA State Plan
Statewide Organizations
Alaska Association of Bilingual Education
AKABE supports bilingual and ESL programs at both the K-12 and adult levels and advocates for parent involvement in the education of children both at home and at school.
Alaska Child Parent Resource Center (Serving the Mat-Su borough)
The Alaska PTI connects families and schools throughout Alaska to enhance the academic achievement of all students.
Alaska Public Employees Association
Since 1980, APEA and AFT individually and collectively have been working with white collar employees to assist them in exercising their right to bargain.
NEA-Alaska is a National Education Association State Affiliate that regularly lobbies legislators for the resources schools need, campaigns for higher professional standards for the teaching profession, and files legal actions to protect academic freedom and the rights of school employees.
Alaska is in the early stages of the Seal of Biliteracy with a pilot program underway at the local level in Anchorage. The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, district, or state in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation.
Featured Articles
Books and Booklists
Research and Reports
- U. S. Census Report: The American Indian and Alaska Native Population (2012)
- The Dropout/Graduation Crisis Among American Indian and Alaska Native Students: Failure to Respond Places the Future of Native Peoples at Risk
- Views and Perspectives of Native Educational Success: A National Survey of American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Others Associated with Indian Education
Note: Regulations change with time. These guidelines were compiled in January of 2012 and updated in January 2020. If you see something that needs updating, please send an e-mail to Colorín Colorado. For more detailed information regarding ELL guidelines and policies at the state and federal levels, please see the following:
References
National Center for Education Statistics. (2018.) English language learner (ELL) students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools, by state: Selected years, fall 2000 through fall 2016.
U.S. Department of Education. Our Nation’s English Learners. Most Common Non-English Languages Spoken by English Learners.