from Your News:
Pennsylvania school districts face escalating costs and logistical challenges due to a sharp increase in English Language Learner students, putting a strain on resources and impacting educational opportunities for local children.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Pennsylvania school districts are grappling with a significant surge in English Language Learner (ELL) students, driven by a dramatic increase in non-English speaking migrant children since 2021, the Daily Caller News Foundation reported. The influx, coinciding with the start of the Biden-Harris administration and a spike in illegal immigration, has strained school resources and placed a heavy financial burden on taxpayers, according to a review of records by the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF).
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The number of ELL students in the state’s public schools has soared nearly 40% in just three years, growing from 71,766 in the 2020-2021 school year to 99,889 in the 2023-2024 school year, per Pennsylvania Department of Education data. The sharp increase has come despite a slight overall decline in the statewide student population.
“This has made us stop to think, ‘how will we provide for these students?’” said Joan Cullen, former president of the Pennridge School Board, who noted the dual challenges of finding qualified personnel and managing the financial impact on already overstretched districts. “You have obviously the financial issue, but also the issue of where to get the personnel.”
The financial implications have been particularly severe for smaller school districts. The Charleroi Area School District, for example, has seen ELL-related expenses skyrocket from $105,000 in the 2020-2021 academic year to $505,000 for the 2024-2025 school year. The number of English learners in the district jumped from 18 to 223, a more than 1,100% increase, with the majority being Haitian Creole speakers.
Heather Roberts, a local union president and Charleroi resident, shared the personal impact of the surge, describing how her daughter, who was set to attend a Head Start program, lost her spot to accommodate new migrant students. “Two weeks before Head Start was set to begin, [the school] contacted me and told me my child was not allowed to attend because of all of the immigrants coming in,” Roberts recounted.
The situation in Charleroi mirrors the challenges in other districts. The Shaler Area School District saw a 466% increase in ELL students from 2021 to 2024, while the Shippensburg Area School District’s ELL population grew from 46 to 175, a 280% rise. In Philadelphia, the state’s largest school district, ELL enrollment increased by nearly 7,000 students over the same period.
The surge has not only affected rural and urban districts alike but has also highlighted logistical challenges, such as a lack of adequate facilities and staffing to support the growing ELL population. In Charleroi, one teacher was reportedly forced to conduct classes in a closet due to a shortage of classroom space. “The increase in English learners has put a stress on the district,” said Charleroi Superintendent Ed Zelich. “The truth is we need more resources. We’re asking for more help.”
The cost of accommodating ELL students has risen sharply. According to the DCNF, the average additional expense for each ELL student is $3,483. Based on this average, the total cost to Pennsylvania taxpayers for the influx of ELL students is estimated to exceed $97 million annually.
Statewide, 62 of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts experienced an increase of 100% or more in ELL enrollment between 2021 and 2024, while another 68 districts saw growth of at least 50%. In smaller districts, the spike in costs has led to difficult choices and diverted resources that might otherwise support local students.
“The sudden rise in migrant students causes logistical issues,” said Ed Salamon, former Council Rock School Board president. Salamon explained that many ELL students enroll and then leave within a year, resulting in wasted resources and staffing mismatches. “The surge in migrant children – and the allocation of resources to accommodate them – has led to some native children falling behind,” he noted.
Roberts echoed these concerns, sharing that her daughter’s education has suffered as schools struggle to manage the growing ELL population. “My daughter, who was behind before, is so far behind now,” she said, adding that her child may need to repeat kindergarten.
Despite the challenges, school administrators emphasize their commitment to serving all students. “The Charleroi Area School District is dedicated to providing a high-quality education for every student within a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment,” Superintendent Zelich said. “This commitment extends to our growing population of English Language Learners, who enrich our school community with their diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.”
Still, the strain on resources and staffing remains an ongoing issue. In the Shippensburg Area School District, the cost of ELL services jumped from approximately $185,000 in the 2020-2021 school year to over $600,000 currently. Similarly, the Montrose Area School District saw its ELL budget more than double from $65,000 to $135,000 over the same period.
The financial and logistical challenges facing Pennsylvania’s schools raise important questions about the long-term impact on taxpayers and the quality of education for all students. As Cullen pointed out, “The problem is real and requires serious discussions.”
