Exploring Quality Programs for English Language Learners in Charter Schools - A Framework to Guide Future Research

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by ahduag

Debate over charter schools has largely centered on overall effectiveness, while English language learners in charter settings have received comparatively little attention. This study argues that researchers must move beyond access and achievement and address how quality programs are designed for ELLs. Drawing on research streams in charter schools, school improvement, and ELLs in traditional public schools, it proposes a five-component framework and discusses implications for research, policy, and practice.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages25

Reading Time1 h 3 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Charter school context and growth

Purpose and proposed framework

Literature review and framework components

Implications for research and practice

| education policy analysis archives
A peer-reviewed, independent, open access, multilingual journal | | | --- | --- | | Arizona State University | | | Volume 24 Number 53 May 9, 2016 ISSN 1068-2341 | | Exploring Quality Programs for English Language Learners in Charter Schools: A Framework to Guide Future Research Peggie Garcia & P. Zitlali Morales University of Illinois at Chicago United States Citation: Garcia, P., & Morales, P. Z. (2016). Exploring quality programs for English language learners in charter schools: A framework to guide future research. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 24(53). [http://dx.doi.org/10.14507/epaa.24.1739](http://dx.doi.org/10.14507/epaa.24.1739) Abstract: Although there has been a great deal of debate about the effectiveness of charter schools in the research literature, there has been surprisingly little attention paid to English language learners (ELLs) in charter schools. Moreover, the charter school research has predominantly focused on whether or not charter schools are effective rather than how or why high-performing charter schools work, particularly for ELLs. We contend that researchers must expand their focus beyond access and achievement and begin to grapple with questions related to the quality of programs for ELLs in charter schools. To meet an emerging need in the field, we synthesize several strands of existing research—related to charter schools, school improvement, and ELLs in traditional public schools—to propose a five-component framework that describes essential elements of quality programs for ELLs in charter schools. We conclude with a discussion of implications of our framework for research, policy, and practice. Keywords: charter schools; English language learners; school improvement Explorando los programas de calidad para estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés enescuelas chárter: Un marco conceptual para orientar investigaciones futuras Resumen: A pesar de que ha habido un gran debate acerca de la efectividad de las escuelas charter en la literatura de investigación, es sorprendente la poca atención sobre los estudiantes que estánaprendiendo inglés (ELL por sus siglas en inglés) en escuelas charter. Asimismo la investigación sobre escuelas chárter se ha centrado principalmente en si las escuelas charter son eficaces en lugar de cómo opor qué las escuelas chárter de alto rendimiento funcionan en particular con estudiantes ELL. Sostenemos que los investigadores deben ampliar su enfoque más allá de acceso y los resultados y comenzar a estudiar cuestiones relacionadas con la calidad de los programas para estudiantes ELL en las escuelas charter. Para satisfacer una necesidad emergente en el campo, sintetizamos varios niveles de investigaciones relacionadas a las escuelas charter, mejoras escolares, y estudiantes ELL en escuelaspúblicas tradicionales para proponer un marco conceptual con cinco componentes que describen los elementos esenciales de los programas de calidad para los estudiantes ELL en escuelas charter. Finalmente presentamos una discusión sobre las implicaciones de nuestro marco conceptual para la investigación, la política y la práctica educativa. Palabras clave: escuelas chárter; estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés; mejora escolar Explorando programas de qualidade para alunos que estão aprendendo inglês nas escolas charter: Uma estrutura conceitual para orientar futuras pesquisas Resumo: Embora tenha havido muito debate sobre a eficácia das escolas charter na literatura de pesquisa, é surpreendente a pouca atenção para os estudantes que estão aprendendo inglês (ELL por sua sigla em Inglês) em escolas charter. Também a pesquisa sobre escolas charter tem-secentrado principalmente sobre se as escolas charter são eficazes em vez de como ou por que as escolas charter de alto desempenho são efetivas, particularmente com os alunos ELL. Argumentamos que os investigadores devem ampliar seu foco para além do acesso e os resul

FAQs

Why does the study emphasize English language learners (ELLs) in charter schools?

It highlights that the literature has given surprisingly little attention to ELLs in charter schools, despite extensive debate about charter school effectiveness.

What is the main contribution of the paper?

It synthesizes existing research to propose a five-component framework describing essential elements of quality programs for ELLs in charter schools.

How are the framework components supported in the paper?

The paper reviews literature on charter schools and ELLs, proposes the framework based on findings, and illustrates components with practices from exemplary charter schools.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by ahduag