Dual Language Learners: Key Characteristics and Considerations for Early Childhood Programs
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Highlights
One-third of U.S. children ages 0–5 are Dual Language Learners. Fact sheets offered here examine DLL populations for the 25 largest states.
- There were 7.4 million Dual Language Learners (DLLs)—children with a parent who speaks a language other than English at home—as of MPI’s review of 2015-19 Census data. They accounted for one-third of all U.S. children ages 0–5.
- DLL shares of all young children were highest in California (59 percent), Texas (49 percent), New Jersey (47 percent), New Mexico (44 percent), and Nevada (43 percent), with Spanish the most common non-English home language nationwide.
- Dozens of languages are spoken in DLL homes beyond Spanish, including Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Hmong, Haitian Creole, and Tagalog.
- Language barriers, household income, parental education, and limited digital access all hinder DLL families' participation in early childhood programs that support language development and academic success.
Dual Language Learners (DLLs)—that is, young children who have at least one parent who speaks a language other than English in the home—make up a large and growing share of U.S. children ages 0 to 5. This is the case both nationwide and in many states. And while Spanish is the top language in DLLs’ households, dozens of other languages are also spoken, reflecting the diversity within this population.
This series of fact sheets shares important characteristics of DLLs’ families that should be considered in early childhood education and care (ECEC) program and policy design and implementation, and particularly in efforts to adress barriers that have led DLLs to enroll in such programs at lower rates than non-DLL children. Among other things, the fact sheets look at languages spoken, household income, parental education, and access to the internet and computers. This information is based on MPI analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, and the 25 states featured are those with the largest DLL populations.
Read the state fact sheets below:
About the National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy
The Center is a national hub connecting policymakers, educators, community leaders, and service providers with evidence-informed policy research, technical assistance, and data to advance effective immigrant integration at U.S., state, and local levels.
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