New immigrants face a language barrier in the U.S.
|
EL PASO – Due to the high level of violence in Cd. Juárez, many families are migrating to El Paso in search of a better life, but as their children enter school here many of them struggle to learn English. The El Paso Independent School District saw an increase of 8 percent in the number of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students between 2007 and 2010. The number of students enrolling in English as a Second Language (ESL) programs also continues to grow, according to the Texas Education Agency. LEP students are eligible to receive ESL or bilingual instruction. Therefore out of the 8 percent of LEP students, some receive bilingual instruction and some receive ESL instruction. Not all of the students identified as LEP receive ESL or bilingual instruction.