English Language Learners in Florida: A legal and policy study

The increasing number of English language learners (ELL) in Floridäs public schools has brought challenges to educational leaders as they work to provide educational opportunity to these children. In 1990, several community and activist groups filed a lawsuit against the Florida Department of Education to pressure it to provide adequate English language programs in all public schools. The lawsuit resulted in Floridäs META Consent Decree (MCD), a legal accord by which Florida agreed to provide adequate teacher training and educational programs, thereby improving access to equal opportunity for ELLs. ELLs are also called limited English proficient (LEP) students in other states. This term was changed in Florida to refer about proficiency within the learning of English as an asset rather than a limitation. The study presented a comprehensive review of the MCD and its eleven main components. Through document and content analysis, the study intended to determine whether Floridäs 67 public school districts comply with the decree and whether policies are in place to implement and support the court authorized processes.