The number of non-native speakers of English has increased dramatically in Kansas public schools. There were over 18,000 English Language Learners (ELL) enrolled in grades K-12 for the 2000-2001 academic year, which is double the number enrolled in the 1992-1993 school year.

ESL services are provided as long as a student is in need of them, usually between three and five years. At the beginning of each academic year, districts test students for their language proficiency levels and based on the results, establish learning outcomes for the year. Some districts also assess students at the end of the academic year in order to determine if the outcomes were met while other districts only test in the fall.

There are over 70 public school districts throughout the state of Kansas that are providing ESOL or Bilingual Education programs. These districts have faced a number of challenges in meeting the needs of their English language learners. As a result, most districts have encouraged their existing general education teachers to obtain an ESOL endorsement. There are presently over 900 teachers in Kansas who either hold or are pursuing an ESOL or Bilingual Education credential. Eight institutions of higher education in the state provide ESOL and/or Bilingual endorsement courses.

The Kansas State Department of Education requires the inclusion of all students in assessment according to the policy specified by Title I, which states that all English Language Learners (ELL) must be part of the assessment system, "to the extent practicable in the language and form most likely to yield accurate and reliable results" [Title I, Section 1111(b)(3)(F)]. A difference exists between exiting from the ESL program and having superior proficiency. The question to ask is whether, after three years of instruction, a student is performing in English at the same level as his/her native-speaking peers. Termination of ESOL instruction does not mean that the student should not continue receiving support and/or monitoring. Decisions on when or how to include the student in the Kansas State Assessments program should not be based on the continuation of ESOL/Bilingual funded instruction.

The following accommodations are allowed on Kansas Assessments: bilingual dictionary, extended time, flexible scheduling, "Plain English" version of the math and reading assessment, small group administration, large printing, native language glossaries, separate testing session, reading of the test to the student in English (except for reading comprehension), using a paraprofessional to translate questions/directions, audio tapes. For more information check the following website: http://www.ksde.org/psst/esolcontentpage.htm.

On the community college level, at Kansas City Kansas Community College, the credit English as a Second Language Department, the credit Foreign Language Department, and some of the non-credit language programs in Continuing Education such as ESL and Workforce Development are forming a new liaison called the Kansas City Kansas Community College Language Institute. The purpose of this collaboration is to share information and to better serve both students and the community. Not only degree-seeking students but also businesses will benefit from ESL on the work site as well as classes and tutoring in foreign languages such as Spanish, French, and German.