English learner (EL) classification is a legally-required status for multilingual public-school students in K-12 schools who meet federal requirements for language support services. By law, the EL category is designed to be temporary. As they develop proficiency in the English language and no longer need or benefit from supplemental supports, students are exited from the category. The process of exiting EL status is called reclassification and, in California, is governed by a combination of federal, state, and local rules. Because students’ status and services shift once exited, reclassification is considered a potentially consequential status change, and a significant body of research has explored the rules, contexts, and effects related to reclassification. This study adds to this body of work, addressing research questions of targeted importance to California.
