Degree Date

6-2016

Document Type

Dissertation - Public Access

Degree Name

Ed.D. Doctor of Education

Academic Discipline

Educational Leadership

Abstract

One of the goals of bilingual education research is to identify programs that have shown to be effective in increasing the English proficiency of English learners (ELs). The purpose of this archival comparative study was to conduct a quantitative comparison of the English reading achievement of third grade ELs enrolled in dual language education (DLE) programs to those enrolled in transitional bilingual education (TBE) programs in order to determine which program is more effective in improving the reading proficiency of third grade ELs in the Chicago Public Schools. The data analyzed in this study were the 2010-2014 reading scores on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) and reading proficiency levels on the Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners (ACCESS for ELLs). Independent sample t-tests were used to compare the data, from two DLE programs and two TBE programs, in order to test hypotheses that predicted that ELs in DLE programs would score significantly higher than those in TBE programs. The findings did not support the hypotheses. Overall, there was not a statistically significant difference between the ISAT reading scores of the two groups; however, ELs in the TBE programs obtained significantly higher reading proficiency levels on the ACCESS for ELLs. The findings of this study are significant because they provide the CPS with information that can be used to evaluate programming options and make decisions for the success of ELs, but most importantly, the findings provide support for the need of long-term analysis of the impact of language acquisition programs.

Previous Versions

Oct 31 2017 (withdrawn)

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