Young children starting school must grasp basic concepts, from reading and mathematics to how to interact with their peers. For a young child to whom English is a second language, learning the fundamentals may be especially overwhelming. How do we ensure preschool-age English language learners (ELLs) are ready for kindergarten?

The Universal Preschool Child Outcomes Study (UPCOS), a collaborative study involving First 5 LA (which funds LAUP), LAUP and Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., seeks to provide input to national policy on instructional practices supporting ELLs.

"There is a growing body of research illuminating high quality instructional practices for ELLs," says Christine Ong, a Research Analyst at First 5 LA."But we still have much to learn about what is happening on a day-to-day basis, what types of instruction ELL children are getting, and what are the best approaches for supporting their development."

Now in its third phase, the UPCOS study builds on findings from earlier phases and examines the instructional practices that LAUP providers use with ELLs. The study aims to identify and provide a detailed description of best practices that could be implemented in other parts of the nation to support preschool-age ELLs.

“We want to ensure that ELL students are given the same opportunity to learn as their English-speaking counterparts, so that they can benefit from a quality preschool education that every child deserves” said Celia C. Ayala, Ph.D, COO of LAUP.

A recent summary of ELL research by Claude Goldenberg, Professor of Education at Stanford University and a member of First 5 LA's Research Advisory Committee, indicates that teaching students to read in their native language leads to better reading skills in English. Goldenberg also cites research that suggests ELL instructors should adjust their teaching styles to the educational needs of their ELL students.

Ong emphasized that the UPCOS study hopes to influence policy that will better support practitioners in their efforts to instruct ELLs. "Researchers across the country are interested in what we're doing in part because of the sheer diversity of L.A. County," Ong said. "It's very exciting.