Foreign language education, academic performance, and socioeconomic status: A study of California schools

This study examines various features of foreign language program offerings at 220 public high schools in California. Foreign language program features were examined in relation to the school's Academic Performance Index (API), the school's socioeconomic status (percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch), and percentage of English language learners (ELLs). High API ranking high schools reported a larger percentage of students enrolled in foreign language classes, more foreign language teachers, fewer emergency-credentialed teachers, more feeder middle school foreign language programs, more study abroad and foreign exchange programs, and more technology use in foreign language teaching. However these relationships were not found in low socioeconotnic schools and schools with larger numbers of ELLs. Foreign language educators can use the findings to offer recommendations to school administrators, policymakers, and professional organizations about ways to improve the teaching of foreign languages in secondary schools regardless of students' socioeconomic status or the growing population of ELLs.