English learners (ELs)—students who speak one or more languages other than English and need support to access English curricula—are a growing population in community colleges in the US. In addition to language, EL students are diverse in racial and ethnic background, national origin, immigration status, and socioeconomic status. A large share of ELs are Latinx students, who are often treated as a monolith, despite the diversity of their social, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds.

English learners are often discussed in the context of K–12 education, but it is important to consider their postsecondary needs and opportunities as well. Despite their numbers, there is limited research on ELs in higher education institutions. Most data sources focus on the subset of college students who enroll in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, even though not all EL students enroll in ESL classes.

We are Latinx English learners ourselves, and we know how critical it is for educational institutions to support English language learning to help students succeed during college and after. The ability to communicate in two languages (Luis) or three languages (Daniel) with other students in similar learning situations allowed us to feel included and navigate our worlds in multiple languages.

Every EL experience is unique and valuable. And though Latinx EL students are a diverse group, they share a struggle that can be alleviated through specialized programming and support. Community colleges and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) are critical in supporting Latinx EL students inside and outside the classroom. Latinx students enroll in community colleges more than any other racial or ethnic group, and they account for at least 25 percent of enrollment at the 569 qualifying HSIs in the US. But there is a long way to go to close the education equity gap for Latinx students.

To learn more about how community colleges can meet the needs of Latinx English learners through better data and other strategies, we spoke with Chris Tombari, dean of academic affairs and transfer initiatives at the Community College of Aurora (CCA) in Aurora, Colorado. CCA—a member of Urban’s Career and Technology Education CoLab College Community of Practice—was federally designated as an HSI in 2016, and about 30 percent of its student body identifies as Latinx.

Read the full article about supporting Latinx English learners by Daniel López and Luis Hassan Gallardo at Urban Institute.