ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS

WHEREAS, there are over 5 million English Language Learners(ELL) enrolled in Pre-k through 12^th grade classes; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to help ELL students build oral Englishskills to verbalize conceptual understandings; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to empower students and communities toovercome the challenges of language barriers; and

WHEREAS, by the year 2010, over thirty percent of all school-agechildren will come from homes in which the primary language isnot English,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The U.S. Conference of Mayors encourages federal, state, and local governments tosupport educational initiatives geared towards addressing theneeds of ELL students and the related challenges it presents todistricts and communities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Conference of Mayors deems citywide multi-cultural events and programs as tools that help tocreate a supportive environment for ELL students to both shareand learn of various cultural backgrounds.