From Language Barriers to Academic Success: How Penn Foster Helps Schools Support English Learners

Posted by Laura Amendola on July 22, 2025

English Language Learners (ELL) represent one of the fastest-growing demographics in U.S. schools. In fact, in 2021, ELL students made up 10.6% of public school students. This is why effective support must be in place in schools for these learners to help ensure their success. Performance metrics, like test scores and graduation rates, are areas education systems can focus on. Partnering with English Language Training programs can help boost the success of English Language Learners (ELL).

Challenges faced by non-English-speaking students

Non-English-speaking students face several challenges as they try to learn in an environment where everything is said and done in a language they don’t fully understand. These challenges include:

Language barriers, including difficulties in comprehension, communication, and academic vocabulary.
Social and emotional impact, including isolation, confidence issues, and cultural adjustment.
Academic risks, including falling behind in grade-level content due to language limitations.
Limited family engagement, including challenges with parental communication and involvement in academics.

The role of schools and guidance counselors

With a growing population of ELL students, school systems and education programs have a responsibility to identify and support any students who are at risk of low academic performance. It’s important to create inclusive learning environments that can benefit all types of learners. This can be done by training staff in cultural competency and inclusive practices. Monitoring ELL students’ progress and intervening when necessary can be instrumental steps to ensuring these students’ success.

Guidance counselors play a huge role in helping to implement procedures and strategies in their schools. They also may be responsible for collaborating with ELL specialists, social workers, and intervention teams for the best results. Support services are instrumental to ELL students’ success, and creating partnerships are the responsibility of counselors who work closely with the students and their families.

Penn Foster’s ELT Program

Penn Foster has its own English Language Training (ELT) program that high school partners can use. The High School + English Language Training Program can help transform how schools and their academic partners — including guidance counselors, teachers, and administrators — support English Language Learner (ELL) students by using EnGen, a language upskilling platform.

Designed as an adaptive, online English language training solution, EnGen integrates seamlessly into existing academic programs like Penn Foster’s High School Diploma, allowing students to build critical language skills while staying on track with their core subjects. Guidance counselors play a pivotal role in helping identify students who can benefit from English language training, coordinating with educators to personalize learning paths, monitor progress through real-time data dashboards, and ensure students receive the right mix of language support and academic guidance. By partnering with Penn Foster, schools can create more inclusive, equitable learning environments where ELL students gain the confidence, skills, and support they need to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

Benefits of an ELT Program

Schools can reap many benefits from an ELT program like Penn Foster’s, including:

1. Accelerated English Language Learning

EnGen, as part of the Penn Foster program, meets students at their current language level and can help them advance quickly, improving reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. This allows English Language Learners (ELLs) to catch up academically while improving their English, reducing the long-term achievement gap.

2. Personalized learning paths

The program helps allow guidance counselors to create individualized support plans that align with both language goals and academic requirements.

3. Flexible, scalable delivery

Because the program is fully online and mobile-friendly, it fits into any school schedule — whether as part of in-class instruction, after-school programs, or independent study. Students, parents, and counselors can work together to decide whether learners supplement their current education with online courses or decide to fully enroll in an online option. Schools and districts of all sizes can scale the program across classrooms or campuses without heavy resource demands.

4. Real-time data & progress tracking

Penn Foster’s program can aid counselors in identifying students who need extra support, celebrate milestones, and adjust plans as needed.

5. Reduces strain on ESL staff

With Penn Foster’s High School Diploma + English Language Training, schools can extend the reach of limited ESL resources. The program provides structured, self-paced lessons and practice opportunities, giving ESL staff and counselors more time to focus on individualized interventions and high-impact support.

6. Builds student confidence and engagement

By empowering students to improve their English skills at their own pace and see measurable progress, an online language training program can help increase student motivation, participation, and confidence — both in the classroom and in social settings.

7. Strengthens family and community connections

Stronger language skills not only improve academic outcomes but also help students and families engage more fully with the school community, which can improve communication between home and school.

Why partner with Penn Foster?

Schools looking to improve their English Language Learner (ELL) support should consider partnering with Penn Foster because its High School Diploma + English Language Training (ELT) program, in collaboration with the EnGen platform, offers a scalable solution tailored to the needs of today’s diverse student populations. By integrating adaptive, online language instruction with core academic content, Penn Foster helps schools empower ELL students to build critical English skills while staying on track in their coursework.

Guidance counselors and educators benefit from flexible delivery options that ease the strain on ESL departments and ensure every student receives the support they need. With Penn Foster as a trusted partner, schools can strengthen student performance and create an inclusive, supportive learning environment where all learners can thrive. To learn more, request information or reach out to our training experts to begin a collaborative effort to improve ELL success.