The English Learner trap: Test well any time you like but you can never leave

Some 5.3 million public-school students are classified as "English Learners." It's easy to get into the program and hard to get out, even for students who test as proficient in English, concludes a New America report.

"Children stuck in such programs are often deprived of access to more rigorous coursework, including college-level classes," writes Jo Napolitano on The 74.

It's like the Hotel California: "You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave."

Schools get more money to provide support, such as English as a Second Language classes, to students who may no longer need it.

Thousands of high-scoring students were kept in English Learner status in Denver's Cherry Creek School District, the program's former director told The 74. Jen Hanson questioned whether the district "was holding on to kids — and the state and federal funding they brought in — for far too long," reports Napolitano. The district denies the charges.

Often children are classified as English Learners if a language other than English is spoken in the home. That sweeps in children who speak English as their primary or only language. Once in, they must test their way out.

Educators say the program can be "too easy to enter and too difficult to leave," Napolitano writes. "They say not even native English speakers could master some of the skills English learners are required to demonstrate in order to exit."  

 The proportion of students who transitioned from English Learner status in 2025 varied widely among states that used the same testing tool, New America found. Those “graduated” or moved to the “monitoring” phase "ranged from a low of 4.5% in New Mexico to 20% in Missouri.

In California, which enrolls roughly 1 million English Learners, 20 percent of high scorers on the English proficiency exam were not reclassified as proficient, according to a 2026 Learning Policy Institute study, writes Napolitano.

"Most of the high school students labeled as English learners are U.S.-born, have spent their entire school careers in U.S. schools, and are fluent English speakers," write Stanford researchers. A complex reclassification system keeps them out of "mainstream academic pathways."

A new law passed in September will simplify the process. Students who reach proficiency on the test will be automatically reclassified.

“For 50 years, a student in California could demonstrate English proficiency and still remain classified as an English learner,” says Martha Hernandez of Californians Together. “Now, when a student meets the state’s English proficiency standard, reclassification automatically follows.”

I started writing about California schools 50 years ago. I'd like to see English Learner status reserved for children in early elementary school and newly arrived immigrants. After that, I think support services have little value and the low expectations do great harm.