The Language Demands of School; Putting Academic English to the Test

The Language Demands of Schoolis an edited volume that fills a gap in the current literature by addressing what kind or kinds of English we require of K-12 English Learner students from an evidence-based perspective.The Language Demands of Schoolis especially timely given the broader context of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001. Under this act, English Learner students must show measurable progress each year in English Language Development. Consequently, states are urgently identifying or developing tests ofEnglish language proficiency that can help them meet this federal mandate. One of the problems that has surfaced in the search for these English language tests is the lack of existing research on the development of the academic English language skillsallstudents must have to be successful in the school setting.

Alison Bailey is associate professor and Division Head of Psychological Studies in Education in the Department of Education at the University of California, Los Angeles.