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English Language Learners and Academic Achievement: Revisiting the Threshold Hypothesis
Author(s) -
Ardasheva Yuliya,
Tretter Thomas R.,
Kinny Marti
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
language learning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.882
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1467-9922
pISSN - 0023-8333
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9922.2011.00652.x
Subject(s) - ell , psychology , mathematics education , language proficiency , english language , reading (process) , english language learner , multilevel model , academic achievement , achievement test , linguistics , teaching method , standardized test , vocabulary development , mathematics , statistics , philosophy
This nonexperimental study explored the predictive strength of English proficiency levels on academic achievement of middle school students in a sample of 17,470 native English‐speaking (NES) students, 558 English language learners (current ELLs), and 500 redesignated fluent English proficient students (former ELLs). Results of multilevel analyses indicated that after controlling for relevant student‐ and school‐level characteristics, former ELLs significantly outperformed current ELL and NES students in reading (effect sizes: 1.07 and 0.52) and mathematics (effect sizes: 0.86 and 0.42). The results support Cummins's (1979, 2000) lower level threshold hypothesis predicting that upon reaching adequate proficiency in the language of schooling and testing, ELLs would no longer experience academic disadvantages. Refinements for the theory and directions for future research are discussed.