English learner education and teacher preparation in the U.S.: an interpretive language education policy analysis

Abstract

This article examines recent U.S. language education policies regarding English learners (ELs) and their teachers using an interpretive policy analysis theoretical lens (Wagenaar 2011 Wagenaar, H. 2011. Meaning in Action: Interpretation and Dialogue in Policy Analysis. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe. [Google Scholar] ) incorporating a sensemaking perspective on organizational dynamics (Weick, Sutcliffe, and Obstfeld 2005 Weick, K. E. , K. M. Sutcliffe, and D. Obstfeld. 2005. “Organizing and the Process of Sensemaking.” Organization Science 16 (4): 409–421. doi:https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.1050.0133. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] ). We portray U.S. EL policies as shaped by varying macro, meso, and micro-local sociohistorical contexts and conflicting discourses regarding language and education. We identify major tensions between (a) centripetal versus centrifugal policy influences; (b) monolingual English-only versus multilingual policy influences; (c) policies that address ELs’ specific instructional needs versus policies addressing equitable access to the mainstream curriculum. We argue that EL policy must be considered in tandem with language teacher education policies since educators’ sensemaking of these tensions depends on their professional training, dispositions, and beliefs. We identify significant gaps in U.S. language teacher education policies including (a) low and inconsistent levels of teacher preparation, (b) little training for mainstream educators, and (c) inadequate recruitment of educators from EL students’ ethnolinguistic communities. Based on our analysis, we argue for rigorous comparative interpretive policy analyses (Appe and Telch 2020 Appe, S. , and F. Telch. 2020. “Grassroots International NGOs: Using Comparative Interpretive Policy Analysis to Understand Meanings in Private Development Aid.” Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice 22 (1): 30–46. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/13876988.2019.1582885. [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] ) of EL and language teacher education policies both within and across English-dominant societies to elucidate common challenges, advocate and work for equity, and make institutional change.