Academic Performance of Immigrant Students in Minnesota Presentation to the Citizens League Study Committee on Immigration and Higher Education July 19, 2006

Key questions 1) How many immigrant students are there in Minnesota schools? o Where do they come from? o What kinds of immigration status do they have? 2) How well are immigrant students performing? o Are some immigrant communities performing better than others? 3) What challenges do immigrant students face? o Do students from different immigrant communities face different challenges?

How many immigrant students are there in Minnesota schools?

Census data In Minnesota: Approximately 96,000 children of foreign-born parents in Minnesota schools. Approximately 96,000 children of foreign-born parents in Minnesota schools. 10% of students in Pre-K through 5 th grades are children of foreign-born parents. 10% of students in Pre-K through 5 th grades are children of foreign-born parents. 9% of students in 6 th – 12 th grades are children of foreign-born parents. 9% of students in 6 th – 12 th grades are children of foreign-born parents. U.S. Census of Population and Housing, 1 Percent PUMS, 2000

LEP Students in Minnesota Schools 6.96% of Minnesota public school students are Limited English Proficient (57,665 total) The percentage of LEP students varies significantly between districts: St. Paul: 38% St. Paul: 38% Willmar: 14% Willmar: 14% Cass Lake: 0% Cass Lake: 0% Minnesota Department of Education, School Year

Problems with using LEP as a proxy for immigrant Just over half (53.9 percent) of ELL students are foreign-born. Descriptive study of services to LEP students and LEP students with disabilities. Volume I: Research report, Office of English Language Acquisition, Around 40% of foreign-born students are ELL. Overlooked and Underserved: Immigrant Students in U.S. Secondary Schools, Urban Institute, 2000.

What we dont know How many immigrant students are there in Minnesotas colleges and universities? How many immigrant students are there in Minnesotas colleges and universities? Where are Minnesotas immigrant students from? Where are Minnesotas immigrant students from? What immigration statuses do Minnesotas immigrant students have? What immigration statuses do Minnesotas immigrant students have? How many of our immigrant students are LEP? How many of our immigrant students are LEP?

How well are immigrant students performing in Minnesota schools?

How well are English Language Learners doing in Minnesota schools?

What we dont know How well are non-LEP immigrant students performing? How well are non-LEP immigrant students performing? How well are immigrant students performing in subjects other than math and reading? How well are immigrant students performing in subjects other than math and reading? Are some immigrant communities performing better than others? Are some immigrant communities performing better than others?

What challenges do immigrant students face?

Overall, foreign-born students are as or more likely than their native-born peers to: Report high personal aspirations Report high personal aspirations Take Advanced Placement classes Take Advanced Placement classes Take other advanced math and science classes Take other advanced math and science classes Graduate from high school Graduate from high school Graduate from college Graduate from college Overlooked and Underserved: Immigrant Students in U.S. Secondary Schools, Urban Institute, The good news

LEP immigrants have higher drop- out rates than non-LEP immigrants. Overlooked and Underserved: Immigrant Students in U.S. Secondary Schools, Urban Institute, 2000.

Mexican and other Hispanic students have higher drop-out rates Overlooked and Underserved: Immigrant Students in U.S. Secondary Schools, Urban Institute, 2000.

Immigrant students have higher rates of poverty than non-immigrants Overlooked and Underserved: Immigrant Students in U.S. Secondary Schools, Urban Institute, 2000.

What we dont know In addition to language acquisition, do immigrant students face other challenges different from those faced by native-born students? In addition to language acquisition, do immigrant students face other challenges different from those faced by native-born students? Do students from different immigrant communities face different challenges? Do students from different immigrant communities face different challenges?

Sources Capps, R., Fix, M., Murray, J., Ost, J., Passel, J. and Herwantoro, S. The New Demography of Americas Schools: Immigration and the No Child Left Behind Act. Urban Institute, Minnesota Department of Education Ruiz-de-Velasco, Jorge and Fix, Michael. Overlooked and Underserved: Immigrant Students in U.S. Postsecondary Schools. Urban Institute, Zehler, A.M., Fleischman, H.L. & Hopstock, P.J., Stephenson, T.G., Pendzick, M. & Sapru, S. Descriptive study of services to LEP students and LEP students with disabilities. Volume I: Research report. Rosslyn, VA: Development Associates