Long-term English learners’ mathematics course trajectories: downstream consequences of early remediation on college preparation

Paulina J. Biernacki, Jennifer Altavilla, Klint Kanopka, Hsiaolin Hsieh, Guillermo Solano-Flores

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We investigated how high school mathematics course placement contributes to inequalities in college preparation for students categorized as “English Learners” (ELs), especially “long-term” English Learners (LTELs). We devised a base-2 enumeration approach that allowed us to process complex transcript data from one school district and enumerate the thousands of possible trajectories (combinations) of mathematics courses taken by students during high school. We observed significant disparities in college preparation across students by English proficiency designation. In comparison to English Only (EO) students, LTELs were funneled into fewer trajectories that predominantly included lower level mathematics courses. We found that enrollment into remedial mathematics courses in Grade 9 appears to restrict access to advanced courses, with grave consequences for Grade 12 college preparation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)122-138
Number of pages17
JournalInternational Multilingual Research Journal
Volume17
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023

Keywords

  • college preparation
  • English learners
  • opportunity to learn
  • remedial courses
  • tracking

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Language and Linguistics
  • Education
  • Linguistics and Language

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