Students with limited English skills may lag behind native English speakers in their knowledge of test material. This educational inequity presents an unfair disadvantage to students with limited English proficiency. Bilingual and English as a Second Language courses can help these students integrate better with their native speaking classmates. Bilingual education gives students opportunities to learn English while allowing them to learn other subjects in their native language. English as a Second Language does not use students' native language and focuses more on the basics of English.
Students with families that do not speak English in the home may not offer the support they need in terms of language skills. Schools should work to provide individual attention to these students, especially if they have learning difficulties that go beyond English proficiency. Providing individual instruction offers an alternative approach to a one-size-fits-all education that benefits some students and leaves others behind.
Standardized tests may confuse students who have trouble understanding complex sentences and advanced vocabulary. Words with multiple meanings, for example, could prevent good students from receiving strong scores simply because of the confusion over one or two words. In 2009, Tennessee education officials began offering students with limited English skills an alternate version of the state standardized exam with less complex sentence structures. Despite the use of alternate tests for non-native speakers, some federal guidelines still require traditional test methods.
In some instances, non-native speakers are exempt from tests altogether. The No Child Left Behind Act, for example, allows English language learners to skip the required tests for up to three years without impacting the school's standings. This exemption prevents schools from having an accurate portrayal of student performance. It also robs individual students of the experience of test-taking and prevents these schools from knowing which students need additional academic support.