Are the majority of students successful?
Alba explains that it is important to look at ELLs as a group in the classrooom or a school to see how well students are faring as a group.
Are students getting the services they need?
Alba explains that it is more important to look at whether ELLs are getting the services they need instead of whether they have similar rates of disability to the general population.
A career studying the intersection of special education and bilingual education
Alba talks about what she has learned by studying the relationship between special education and bilingual education on behalf of English language learners.
Special education is not always the answer
Dr. Nancy Cloud cautions against using special education as an intervention and assuming that it will automatically be helpful for ELLs.
Being an EL is not a disability
Dr. Debbie Zacarian explains why is important not to think of being an EL as a disability.
Including parents in the special education referral process
Debbie talks about important considerations for making sure that ELL parents are part of special education conversations and referrals.
Student scenario for over-identification: Li
Dr. Debbie Zacarian shows how the steps a team of educators take when considering student needs can make a big difference in outcomes for an ELL.
Learning about students’ prior experiences
Dr. Nancy Cloud discusses the importance of learning more about ELLs' prior educational experiences.
Why ELLs struggle with reading
Dr. Nancy Cloud talks about the importance of not assuming that ELLs' reading difficulties lie within the learner. See the complete interview in our Meet the Experts section.
How classroom teachers, ESL specialists, and reading specialists can collaborate to teach reading
Nancy talks about the unique roles of classrooms teachers, ESL specialists, and reading specialists in ELL literacy support, as well as ideas for how best to collaborate.