Utah: ELL Resources

Map of Utah

As of the 2016-2017 school year, Utah’s schools were home to more than 41,000 English language learners. As of the 2014-2015 school year, the most common five languages spoken by ELLs in Utah were Spanish, Navajo, Arabic, Somali, and Vietnamese. (U.S. Dept. of Education, National Center for Education Statistics)

Utah is a member of WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment). 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: Utah State Office of Education

ELL Website: Dual Immersion

ELP Standards & Assessment

ELP Standards: WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards

ELP Assessment: WIDA-ACCESS for ELLs

Statewide Standards-Based Assessment

Assessment: Utah Assessment Information

Additional Information

NCELA: Title III Information

WIDA: Utah Contact Information

Common Core State Standards: Yes

ESSA:  Utah ESSA State Plan

Statewide Organizations

AFT Utah

AFT Utah is the state's affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers.

Intermountain TESOL

Intermountain TESOL, an affiliate of International TESOL, provides professional development for ESL teachers in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming.

Utah Education Association

Utah 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.

Utah Parent Center

The mission of the Utah Parent Center (UPC or Center) is to help parents help their children, youth and young adults with all disabilities to live included, productive lives as members of the community.

Utah: Seal of Biliteracy

Utah adopted the Seal of Biliteracy in 2015. 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. In Utah, students who are proficient in Navajo or Ute can also be awarded the Seal of Biliteracy.

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.