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. 2011 Jul;47(4):916-30.
doi: 10.1037/a0023865.

Early mathematics achievement trajectories: English-language learner and native English-speaker estimates, using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey

Greg Roberts  1 , Diane Bryant
Affiliations

Early mathematics achievement trajectories: English-language learner and native English-speaker estimates, using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey

Greg Roberts et al. Dev Psychol. 2011 Jul.

Abstract

This study used data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey, Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999, to (a) estimate mathematics achievement trends through 5th grade in the population of students who are English-language proficient by the end of kindergarten, (b) compare trends across primary language groups within this English-language proficient group, (c) evaluate the effect of low socioeconomic status (SES) for English-language proficient students and within different primary language groups, and (d) estimate language-group trends in specific mathematics skill areas. The group of English-language proficient English-language learners (ELLs) was disaggregated into native Spanish speakers and native speakers of Asian languages, the 2 most prevalent groups of ELLs in the United States. Results of multilevel latent variable growth modeling suggest that primary language may be less salient than SES in explaining the mathematics achievement of English-language proficient ELLs. The study also found that mathematics-related school readiness is a key factor in explaining subsequent achievement differences and that the readiness gap is prevalent across the range of mathematics-related skills.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Average achievement trajectories for English-language-learner subgroups and L1 (first language) group. Note that the dashed line with the largest sized segments (labeled as Spanishc) represents the Spanish-language trend when socioeconomic status effects are constrained as equal across groups. The solid line represents the native English-speaking group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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