ELL students in America often require more academic and social reinforcements than their native-English speaking peers. In addition to the ELL classes offered at all public schools, afterschool and summer programs allow ELL youth to enhance and practice their language development in compassionate environments that are less demanding and generally more comfortable than those during the typical school day. Many schools offer free afterschool programs for students, from multicultural clubs to academic tutoring. Several nonprofit organizations and businesses offer free summer programs, such as academic camps and work internships, which prevent any developmental backsliding that can happen in the summer months.
Many K-12 schools offer supplemental resources to parents of ELL students. Several schools in areas of high ELL populations produce bilingual school communications and employ bilingual parent liaisons/ombudsmen to ensure effective communication between each child's school and home. Schools typically have a school advisory council, parent-teacher association or similar group as an additional support for parents desiring further communication with the school. Numerous public schools also offer parenting and ESOL classes to ELL adults in the evenings.
Several organizations, including most community colleges, offer adult education courses specifically for those whose native language is not English. GED test preparation, computer skills, and English as a Second Language (ESOL) courses are popularly offered to ELL adults, as well as adult diploma programs and parenting classes. These courses are usually offered at discounted tuition rates and with flexible class schedules.
Every major city is filled with nonprofit organizations that support specific, underserved populations through specialized services. Nonprofits that support ELL families are quite common, especially in urban areas. For example, The ASPIRA Association is a national nonprofit organization specifically dedicated to Hispanic empowerment through the education and leadership development of Latino youth. The Cambodian Association is a national nonprofit organization that assists refugees and immigrants from Cambodia to become self-sufficient in the United States.