What is Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS)

Classroom teachers throughout the U.S. are faced with a variety of challenges due to the rapidly changing demographics in their classrooms. These teachers must recognize and address the vast cultural, ethnic and language differences represented while at the same time adhering to the different accountability based federal and state mandates. This chapter provides an overview of the policies regarding education of English Language Leaners (ELLs), examines different ethnic groups represented within ELL subgroups including basic demographic information across the different states in the U.S. The chapter also examines challenges hindering school success and effective instructional support and strategies that facilitate language development and academic literacy.