What are the ESL standards?
• The ESL standards are statements that describe what students learning English as a second language (ESL) should know and be able to do as a result of their ESL classes. They are voluntary, national, content standards. • They are intended to provide a bridge to specific standards in content areas such as math, science, and social studies, expected of all students in the United States. • The ESL standards highlight the special instructional and assessment needs that ESL students may have. • The three broad goals focus on the development of social language, academic language, and sociocultural knowledge. Each goal is followed by three standards describing what students should know and be able to do. • They were developed by ESL teachers and other educators from around the country for use with ESL students in pre-K-12 schools. See Appendix A to read the ESL standards.
