ELL Resources Arizona

Arizona schools were home to more than 91,000 English Language Learners (ELLs), as of the 2012-2013 school year. That indicates a 35% decrease from the 2002-2003 school year, as per the Migration Policy Institute in 2015. Currently, there are five most common spoken languages by ELLs in Arizona – Spanish, Navajo, Somali, Vietnamese, and Arabic.

Arizona: English Language Learner (ELL) Resources

Arizona: English Language Learner (ELL) Resources

Arizona: English Language Learner (ELL) Resources

Arizona schools were home to more than 91,000 English Language Learners (ELLs), as of the 2012-2013 school year.  That indicates a 35% decrease from the 2002-2003 school year, as per the Migration Policy Institute in 2015. Currently, there are five most common spoken languages by ELLs in Arizona – Spanish, Navajo, Somali, Vietnamese, and Arabic.

State of Arizona ELL Resources

State Agency: Arizona Department of Education

ELL Website: Office of English Language Acquisition Services (OELAS)

ELL Guidance & Documents: State ELL Forms

State Regulations: Structured Immersion Task Force Website

ELL Identification

Placement Exam: Arizona English Language Learner Assessment (AZELLA)

ELP Standards & Assessment

ELP Standards: Arizona English Language Proficiency Standards

ELP Assessment of English Language Development: Arizona English Language Learner Assessment (AZELLA)

ELL Instruction

Structured English Immersion (SEI): Structured English Immersion

Arizona’s State Department of Education provides Local Education Agencies (LEAs) with information on laws and regulations regarding ELLs education.  

Statewide Standards-Based Assessment

Assessment: Arizona’s Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS)

Additional Information

AZ State Title III Information: Title III Information and Accountability

National Clearing House for English Language Acquisition (NCELA): Title III Information

Statewide Resources

Lectura Books

Lectura Books is the go-to source for bilingual books and culturally relevant family reading programs.

The Latino Literacy Project

The Latino Family Literacy Project is known for its award-winning parent involvement programs for Spanish speaking parents.

Arizona: Seal of Biliteracy

In 2016, Arizona adopted the Seal of Biliteracy to promote bilingual pride.  The Seal of Biliteracy encourages students to be biliterate and aid schools in promoting bilingualism by granting seals and medals.    The organization has an award, which recognizes students who have studied and reached proficiency in two or more languages by the time they graduate high school.

Arizona TESOL

AZ-TESOL is the organization that represents teachers of ELLs throughout Arizona.  This organization promotes excellence in education for ELLs and a professional environment for TESOL teachers.

Arizona State Education Association

The Arizona Education Association is part of the National Education Association state affiliate program.  This national program lobbies legislators for resources needed in schools.  Additionally, they campaign for higher professional teacher standards and file legal actions to protect academic freedom and school employee rights.

Arizona Family Resource Center on Disabilities

The Arizona Family Resource Center on Disabilities (PIRC) offers parents of children with disabilities a variety of programs, resources, and information to increase parent involvement and improve the student success rate.

Note: Regulations change from time to time.  These resources and guidelines were complied in July 2018.  If you see that something needs to be updated, please send an email to _____.  For more detailed information regarding ELL guidelines and policies at the state and federal levels, please refer to the following:

Federal Regulations Regarding English Language Learners (ELLs)

Migration Policy Institute: ELL Information Center