While former English Learner (EL) students who have improved their facility with the language enough to be reclassified as fluent do as well as native English speakers on standardized tests and other measures, the criteria for reclassification vary among school districts in California, a report from the Public Policy Institute of California finds. According to the report, Reclassification of English Learner Students in California (54 pages, PDF), stricter criteria generally result in lower reclassification rates but also are associated with better outcomes for students who are reclassified in elementary and middle school. On the other hand, students who were not reclassified until they were in high school in districts with more rigorous criteria were less likely to complete college eligibility requirements or obtain a high school diploma than students in other districts. Although many districts would need to lower their standards, the report's authors recommend that a statewide standard be established for reclassifying EL students according to state board of education guidelines.