New York Says ELLs Are ‘At Risk’ After All

New York state education officials have decided that English-language learners officially fall into the category of students who are “at risk of academic failure,” paving the way for a new charter school in New York City to give preference to such students in admissions. Gotham Schools has been following issues concerning high-needs students and charter schools in New York state closely and reported this week that the state reversed its position that ELLs weren’t considered to be “at risk.” The blog has reported that the state has a policy encouraging charter schools to focus on at risk students.