This 9-page research brief published by the Office of Research and Evaluation provides an overview of English Learners in grades 6-12 and their progress toward meeting their ACCESS growth targets in the 2018-19 school year. It complements the K-5 brief published in October 2019.

Key findings include:

• Fifteen percent of ELs in grades 6-12 attained their growth targets in 2018-19. Of those ELs who were in or beyond their attainment year, or year expected to achieve ACCESS proficiency, less than 4% met their growth target.
• ELs in grades 6-12 all met their annual growth targets at low rates, and ELs in 9th grade attained their annual growth targets more often than ELs in other grades.
• Being classified as an EL for longer periods of time was associated with a lower percentage of students meeting their growth target.
• Compared to other ELs with a home language shared by at least 100 students in grades 6- 12, ELs who specified Khmer as their home language were the group who least often met their growth targets.

For more information, contact Kristyn Stewart: kmstewart@philasd.org.