Special Education and ELLs: The Role of Language

A woman helping a young girl with her schoolwork.

What role does language play in the identification and instruction of English language learners who may have disabilities? What language should be used for evaluations and assessments? Learn more from the resources below.

Research and Reports

The Relation Between First- and Second-Language Skills: Evidence from Puerto Rican Elementary School Children in Bilingual Programs

Recommended Resources

Cultural and Linguistic Differences: What Teachers Should Know

From the Center for Parent Information and Resources: The IRIS STAR Legacy modules are meant to help train future teachers, administrators, and other school personnel. This module examines the ways in which culture influences the daily interactions that occur across all classrooms and provides practice for enhancing culturally responsive teaching. This module is a revision of ‘Teachers at the Loom: Weaving Together Culture, Family, and Instruction for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Students.’

Acknowledgements

This resource section was made possible through our partnership with the National Education Association. Additional support was provided by the American Federation of Teachers.