About 10 percent of public school students in the United States are English language learners . In some states , that number is much higher . In California , for example , 38 percent of students enter the public school system as English learners . Overall , about 21 percent of California public school students are considered English learners . For years , these students had few chances to receive a bilingual education or take special classes for English learners . In 1998 , California voters passed a measure that ended many programs for English language learners , in favor of English - only education . The measure was known as Proposition 227 , or the “ English in Public Schools ” measure . Jose Antonio Gonzalez , 10 , left , cheers with other children as Proposition 227 writer Ron Unz addresses the media and supporters of the proposal to end bilingual education in the state , in Los Angeles Tuesday , June 2 , 1998 . In November 2016 , that measure was overturned . Today , California public schools are working to bring in and expand bilingual offerings . However , progress has been slow . School systems across the state say they simply do not have enough qualified , bilingual educators to serve their students . California is not alone in this struggle . Thirty other states and the District of Columbia report shortages of teachers in the areas of bilingual instruction and English as a Second Language . Observers fear a continued shortage will further harm English learners ’ chances for a meaningful education . But there are national and local efforts underway to find solutions . We talk about those today . First , we will discuss the population involved . America ’ s English language learnersAn estimated five million students in the country are considered English language learners , or ELLs . Such students are the fast - growing group in U . S . public schools . Last month , the Council of Great City Schools published its latest findings on English learners . The report looked at several conditions for English learners attending public schools in 74 major U . S . cities . In its report , the council defines English learners as between the ages of 3 and 21 ; whose native language is not English ; and whose difficulties in reading , speaking and understanding English are enough to keep them from having success in the classroom . In this photo taken Feb . 14 , 2014 , kindergarten teacher Thao Tran helps student Brian Ho learn fish - related words in Vietnamese in a dual immersion language class at White Center Heights Elementary School in Seattle , Washington ( AP Photo / Elaine Thompson ) The most commonly spoken languages among ELLs in America are Spanish , Arabic , Chinese , Haitian Creole and Vietnamese . Speakers of those five languages make up 92 percent of all ELLs included in the council ’ s report . Methods for teaching ELLsEnglish learners can enroll in one of several kinds of programs , depending on where they live . There are transitional programs , in which students are mostly taught in their native language but also receive English training . And there are structured programs , which offer students almost all classroom teaching in English . These kinds of programs do not always permit students to become skilled at writing and reading in their own language , however . There are also so - called dual - language immersion programs . These programs offer instruction in two languages -- English and another language . Research has shown that English learners do best in dual - language programs , especially if the second language is their own mother tongue . This Sept . 30 , 2016 photo shows a display at a bilingual Korean - English language immersion classes at Porter Ranch Community School in Los Angeles . ( AP Photo / Nick Ut ) This is not a usual education model in America ’ s public schools , however . A 2017 study by the Rand corporation estimated that the US has between 1 , 000 and 2 , 000 dual language immersion programs . By comparison , the United States has over 130 , 000 schools serving kindergarten through 12 th - grade students . The lack of high - quality bilingual programs is clear when considering student outcomes . Nationally , about 83 percent of students complete their high school education . But the graduation rate among English learners is far lower – 65 percent . The case in CaliforniaBefore Proposition 227 passed in 1998 , 30 percent of California ’ s 1 . 3 million English learners took part in bilingual programs . But in the years after , only 5 percent were able to take part in such programs . This information comes from a report released last month by Education Next . Since the proposition was repealed , schools in California have been hoping to bring back bilingual programs . A 2017 public opinion study found that 58 percent of school districts in the state had plans to add or expand bilingual programs . Unidos Dual Language Charter School teacher Rosa Pellicer talks about her class in Forest Park , Georgia , Monday , Aug . 21 , 2006 . ( AP Photo / Ric Feld ) However , 86 percent of those districts said the shortage of bilingual teachers was slowing those plans . Experts and school administrators told Education Next that school systems in California are “ stealing each other ’ s teachers . ” To compete , many systems in the state now offer extra money for teachers with bilingual skills . More districts “ growing ” their own teachersSchool systems across the country sometimes look for bilingual educators internationally . But education experts and policy organizations say there are ways for states to find and train new teachers in their local communities . One method involves “ growing ” more educators within their community . This is called “ grow your own ” or GYO . New America is a policy organization based in Washington , D . C . Its Education Policy team carries out research meant to strengthen America ’ s educational system . It says " grow your own " programs can both fix teacher shortages in states and increase the racial and linguistic diversity among teachers . It adds that local teacher candidates are more likely than overseas teachers to stay in the system . This saves schools money and resources over time . This spring , New America released a list of " grow your own " guidelines for schools and states to follow . It advised states to offer a mix of ways for bilingual teacher candidates to receive necessary certifications . It also suggested training local candidates even if they do not have a college degree . [ A complete list of its suggested policies and practices can be seen here . ] Reaching English Learners Act Congressional lawmakers are also among those looking for ways to find and train bilingual teacher candidates . Last year , several lawmakers introduced a bill meant to address the shortage of educators qualified to teach English learners . The bill is called the “ Reaching English Language Learners Act . ” If passed , the bill would give grants to colleges and universities to support the development of the next generation of ELL educators . The grant money would go toward developing programs meant to make sure teacher candidates have the “ knowledge and skills necessary ” to effectively teach English learners . Jim Langevin was among the lawmakers who proposed the bill to the House of Representatives , first in 2018 and again in February . Langevin is a Democratic Party congressman from Rhode Island . The bill has received support from Democrats and Republicans in both houses of Congress . Langevin said the bill would provide critical resources to help English learners and their teachers . I ’ m Caty WeaverAnd I ' m Ashley Thompson . Ashley Thompson wrote this report . Caty Weaver was the editor . Do students in your country learn two or more languages in school ? What do you think is the best way to teach English language learners ? We want to hear from you . Write to us in the comments section . QUIZ : Bilingual Teachers in Short Supply Across AmericaStart the Quiz to find outStart Quiz ​ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _________________________ Words in This Story qualified - adj . having the necessary skill , experience , or knowledge to do a particular job or activitybilingual - n . able to speak and understand two languagesdistrict - n . an area or section of a country , city , or towntransitional - adj . changed from one state or condition to anotherimmersion - n . a method of learning a foreign language by being taught entirely in that languagegraduation - n . the act of receiving a diploma or degree from a school , college , or university : the act of graduatingdiversity - n . the quality or state of having many different forms , types , ideas , etc . grant - n . an amount of money that is given to someone by a government , a company , etc . , to be used for a particular purpose ( such as scientific research ) Bilingual Teachers in Short Supply Across America https : / / learningenglish . voanews . com / a / bilingual - teachers - in - short - supply - across - america / 4907669 . html