Teaching Reading to Limited English Proficient Students 1.3 2005/11/03 11:57:49 US/Central 2005/11/05 22:57:03.658 US/Central Linda Edgar-Creighton edu_lmc@shsu.edu Linda Edgar-Creighton edu_lmc@shsu.edu Administrators Limited English Proficient Students Professional Development Rural Schools Teachers Rural schools are schools located in rural areas with a population of less than 2,500 as defined by the Department of Education, Bureau of the Census (National Education Association [NEA], 2004) and face unique challenges for developing programs to serve the linguistic and cultural needs of English Language Learners (ELLs): (1) limited experience with ELLs; (2) a shortage of certified English as a Second Language (ESL) and/or bilingual teachers; (3) a shortage of translators with the proficiency to speak, read, or write in the students’ home language; and (4) limited curriculum materials in the students’ first language.