More students are learning English as a second language locally, however the numbers of students mastering the language remains stagnant dropping 1 percent below children statewide.

Results of the annual California English Language Development Test showed a growing number of students in California who do not speak English as their first language, according to the California Department of Education. Statewide, the percentage of students scoring at advanced or early advanced increased. In San Mateo County, the number of students tested also increased. The passage rate, however, remained constant at 35 percent.

“Being fluent in English can open a world of new opportunities for every student. I am pleased to see that more English learners participating in the assessment are making good progress toward English language fluency,” said state Superintendent Jack O’Connell. “All children need strong English language skills in order to do well in the classroom and compete successfully in the work place. These results show that more students are meeting this challenge.”

The CEDLT is one of four criteria used to determine whether or not students should be reclassified as fluent in English.

This year nearly 24,000 more students were tested statewide — a 2 percent increase over last year — breaking the 1 percent decrease trend the previous three years.

San Mateo County saw an additional 918 students tested — a 5.79 percent increase. A majority of the increases was seen in grades first, second, third and sixth.

The increase could be the beginning of a growing trend since it's mostly in the lower grades, said Peter Burchyns, San Mateo County Office of Education spokesman. It will take a few years before that will become clear.

Students are annually tested in listening and speaking skills of English learners in kindergarten and first grade, and listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in grades two through 12. Students are then evaluated at a performance level of beginning, early intermediate, intermediate, early advanced and advanced.

Statewide, the percentage of students scoring at early advanced or advanced increased from 32 percent during the 2006-2007 school year to 36 percent this year. San Mateo County boasts 35 percent at that level with no change from last year.

Three districts, Redwood City Elementary, San Bruno Park and San Mateo-Foster City Elementary, fell just short of the county’s 35 percent reaching 29 percent, 31 percent and 33 percent respectively. Other districts ranged from Sequoia Union High School scoring 38 percent to Burlingame Elementary earning 57 percent. San Carlos Elementary and Millbrae Elementary school districts both had 49 percent of students at early advanced or advanced levels.

Just shy of 33 percent of students statewide met the CELDT criterion for English language proficiency. San Mateo County had similar results boasting 33 percent.

A number of programs are offered in the county to help prepare students. The Early Childhood Language Development Institute was established in 2003 as a response to preschool teachers and parents looking for best practices in supporting the language and literacy skills of bilingual preschool children. In 2007-08, ECLDI is working with approximately 20 teachers and 60 parents in the Redwood City, South San Francisco and San Bruno areas, said Burchyns.

Preschool for All serves students in the Redwood City and Ravenswood school districts. This year, the student population totals 772 students, of which 76 percent are English learners.