Limited English Proficiency

The term “limited English proficient” or “LEP,” refers to an individual whose primary language is other than English and whose difficulties in speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language may be sufficient to deny the individual the ability to meet the state’s proficient level of achievement on assessments, the ability to achieve in classrooms where the language of instruction is English, and/or the opportunity to participate fully in society.

Most students living in the United States (U.S.) read, write, speak, and understand English at a level that allows them to function successfully in the academic setting and society as a whole. There are many individuals, however, for whom English is not their primary language. According to the National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition (NCELA), approximately five million LEP students were enrolled in public school nationwide during the 2005–2006 school year. This number represents approximately 10% of total...