Supporting Dual Language Learners in State-Funded Preschool

Nationally, one-third of children under the age of 5 are Dual Language Learners (DLL), meaning that they are learning English in addition to another home language. Both the number of DLLs in the U.S. and the number of all children attending state-funded preschool are growing. Research shows that high quality preschool benefits DLLs, and benefits can be increased by specific supports for DLLs’ home language development and through engagement with their families. This report summarizes information from NIEER’s 2024 State of Preschool Yearbook on states’ policies regarding supports for DLLs and their families in state-funded preschool programs. We find that states vary widely in their supports for DLLs, and that state policies often do not match research-recommended best practices for DLLs. We highlight exemplar states and look closely at the ten states with the highest percentages of DLLs in the state. We offer recommendations to strengthen state-funded preschool programs’ supports for DLLs and their families.