California public schools enroll some 1.2 million students who are classified as English learners (ELs), representing a little more than 19 percent of the statewide student population.

Given the size of this population and given the state’s efforts over the last decade to recommend to districts materials lists for high-quality, standards-aligned materials for all students, education leaders need to understand teachers’ perceptions of the quality and suitability of materials available for use with their EL students. This information can help inform the provision of differentiated supports that meet the needs of schools, teachers, and learners across the Golden State.

This brief, produced by the CA Analysis for Learning & Engagement (CALE) project, summarizes survey data about California teachers’ views of and experience instructional materials in relation to their EL students. It draws from a survey that included items about subject-matter materials in general, along with items about the cultural relevance and linguistic appropriateness of the materials, digital materials, and teachers’ modification of materials for EL students.

To place California’s results in a national context, the authors also compared California’s subject-specific teacher responses to those of teachers in other states who responded to the same survey.

Other Briefs in the Series