Glossary

EAC

Equity Assistance Centers (EACs), formerly known as Desegregation Assistance
Centers, are funded under the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education of
the Department of Education and authorized by Title IV of the 1964 Civil
Rights Act. All ten EACs provide technical assistance to public schools in
their region to ensure equal access and equitable treatment for all students,
regardless of race, gender, or national origin.
www.equitycenters.org

EFL

English as a Foreign Language (EFL) refers to situations where English is taught to persons living in countries where English is not the medium of instruction in the schools or to international students in the US who intend to return to their home countries. In EFL classes, English is taught as a subject, and exposure to English is typically limited to the classroom setting (e.g., English in Japan) (Snow, 1986).

ELD

English language development (ELD) means instruction designed specifically for English language learners to develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in English. This type of instruction is also known as "English as a second language" (ESL) or "teaching English to speakers of other languages" (TESOL). ELD or ESL standards are a version of English Language Arts standards that have been crafted to address the specific developmental stages of students learning English.

ELL

English language learner.

ESEA

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act, first enacted in 1965, and reauthorized every 5 years. The ESEA was reauthorized as the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001.

ESL

English as a second language (ESL) is an educational approach in which English language learners are instructed in the use of the English language. Their instruction is based on a special curriculum that typically involves little or no use of the native language, focuses on language (as opposed to content) and is usually taught during specific school periods. For the rest of the school day, students may be placed in mainstream classrooms, an immersion program, or a bilingual education program. Every bilingual education program has an ESL component (U.S. General Accounting Office, 1994). Also ELD, pullout ESL, ESOL, content-based ESL.

ESOL

English for speakers of other languages.

ESP

English for specific purposes (ESP) refers to situations where technical English is taught for use in the professions, science, or for vocational needs (Strevens, 1977).

Early-exit Bilingual Education

A form of transitional bilingual education (TBE) in which children move from bilingual education programs to English-only classes in the first or second year of schooling (Baker, 2000).

Educational Service Agency

As defined by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001:^[3]

The term educational service agency' means a regional public multiservice agency authorized by State statute to develop, manage, and provide services or programs to local educational agencies.

Educational research

The formal, systematic application of the scientific method to the study of educational problems.

Elementary School

As defined by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001:^[3]

The term elementary school' means a nonprofit institutional day or residential school, including a public elementary charter school, that provides elementary education, as determined under State law.

Empirical methods

Research methods and data-gathering techniques supported by measurable evidence, not opinion or speculation.

Endangered Language

An endangered language is one that has a dwindling number of speakers. Languages are endangered when their use is replaced by the majority language of a region or when they are no longer being learned by new generations of children or adult speakers. In the United States, many Native American languages are endangered or have become extinct. One method for preventing language extinction is the teaching of heritage languages in school (Woodbury, 2000).

English Plus

A movement based on the belief that all U.S. residents should have the opportunity to become proficient in English plus one or more other languages (Lewelling, 1992).