Many English-only students would fail locally determined cutoff scores often applied to English Learner students under California's Criterion 4 basic-skills requirement¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2026 · checked against its sources 2026-10-20 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Criterion 4 is often a barrier to reclassification: many English-only students would fail to meet the locally determined cutoff scores often applied to EL students. → Faulkner-Bond 2026

Evidence¶

Faulkner-Bond 2026¶

Faulkner-Bond, M. (2026). Rethinking English Learner reclassification in California: What research says about the state's criteria. WestEd. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED681358

q2 · i? · associational · r2

The brief reports research indicating that "many English-only students would fail to meet the locally determined cutoff scores often applied to EL students for this criterion," and that educators and field leaders identified the basic skills requirement as a significant obstacle. No effect size or sample size is printed for this finding in the brief.

"Educators and field leaders identified the basic skills requirement (Criterion 4) as a significant obstacle. Research indicates that many English-only students would fail to meet the locally determined cutoff scores often applied to EL students for this criterion."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• English-Learner Status — outcome: instruction changes it

Related Claims¶

• Educators in 2023-24 listening sessions repeatedly identified Criterion 4 as a barrier to reclassification that many English-only students could not meet — possibly the same claim (merge candidate)
• Removing Criterion 4 would likely increase reclassification rates for ready students, particularly those with disabilities or from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, without harming academic performance — related
• Students who meet Criterion 1 achieve at the same level whether they remain in EL status or exit, suggesting retention in EL status after proficiency provides no clear academic benefit — related
• ELPAC overall Performance Level 4 is the most robust indicator that language is no longer the primary driver of academic achievement differences among California's reclassification criteria — related
• Different responsiveness-determination approaches (status vs. slope, criteria, domains, cut points) identify different students as adequate and inadequate responders, with little or no overlap — related
• As of 2023-24, California was the only state using four criteria for exiting EL classification — related