Educators in 2023-24 listening sessions repeatedly identified Criterion 4 as a barrier to reclassification that many English-only students could not meet¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r3 · q1
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q1 i? In virtual listening sessions, there were over 75 references to Criterion 4, with many educators describing it as a barrier to exit and expressing skepticism about English-only students' ability to meet local standards. → Faulkner-Bond 2026

Evidence¶

Faulkner-Bond 2026¶

Faulkner-Bond, M. (2026). Finding the sweet spot for English Learner reclassification: A study of California's criteria. WestEd. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED681359

q1 · i? · associational · r3

Two virtual listening sessions in winter 2023-24 convened by the CDE for county, LEA, and site leaders and educators, facilitated by CDE and WestEd. The report counts "over 75 references to Criterion 4" among responses to a question about barriers to reclassification.

"In the responses, there were over 75 references to Criterion 4. Many educators shared that they see Criterion 4 as a barrier to exit and expressed skepticism about English-only (EO) students’ ability to meet the LEA’s local standard for EL students to exit EL status."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• English-Learner Status — outcome: instruction changes it

Related Claims¶

• As of 2023-24, California was the only state using four criteria for exiting EL classification — related
• Many English-only students would fail locally determined cutoff scores often applied to English Learner students under California's Criterion 4 basic-skills requirement — 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
• There is a conceptual disconnect between meeting the Title III English proficient standard and exiting EL status under Title I — related