Kentucky: ELL Resources

Map of Kentucky

As of the 2016-2017 school year, Kentucky’s schools were home to more than 21,500 English language learners. As of the 2014-2015 school year, the most common five languages spoken by ELLs in Kentucky were Spanish, Arabic, Somali, Nepali, and Chinese. (U.S. Dept. of Education, National Center for Education Statistics)

Kentucky is a member of WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment), joining in 2006. WIDA is a consortium of states dedicated to the design and implementation of high standards and equitable educational opportunities for English language learners which offers states programming for identifying and annually assessing the English language development of its English learners.

State ELL Resources

State Agency: Kentucky Department of Education

ELL Website: English Learner and Immigrant Resources

ELP Standards & Assessment

ELP Standards: WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards

ELP Assessment: WIDA-ACCESS for ELLs

Statewide Standards-Based Assessment

Assessment: Kentucky Assessment Website

Additional Information

NCELA: Title III Information

WIDA: Kentucky Contact Information

Common Core State Standards: Yes

ESSA: Kentucky ESSA State Plan

Statewide Organizations

Kentucky Education Association

Kentucky Education Association 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.

Kentucky Special Parent Involvement Network (KY-SPIN)

The mission of KY-SPIN, Inc. is to link families and individuals with disabilities to valuable resources that will enable them to live productive, fulfilling lives.

Kentucky TESOL

Kentucky TESOL, Inc. (KYTESOL) is a statewide professional organization for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages.

Kentucky: Seal of Biliteracy

Kentucky is in the early stages of the Seal of Biliteracy.  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.

 

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.