What does ELA stand for? On a report card, a class schedule or a test notice, it means English Language Arts, the subject where students learn to read, write, speak, listen and use the English language well. It is the modern name for what many parents simply called English or reading class.
The longer name signals a wider subject. ELA is not only grammar and spelling. It covers stories and poems, articles and research, class discussions, vocabulary and the skill of backing up an idea with evidence from a text.
Quick facts
Stands for
English Language ArtsType
Initialism, said E L AUsed in
Report cards, schedules, state tests, lesson plansGrades
Kindergarten through high schoolMain strands
Reading, writing, speaking and listening, languageRelated terms
ELD, ELL, STEMNot to be confused with
ELD, English Language Development for English learners
What does ELA stand for in education?
Teachers and schools use the three words like this:
| Letter | Word | Meaning in class |
|---|---|---|
| E | English | The language being studied |
| L | Language | How words, grammar and meaning work |
| A | Arts | The skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening |
The phrase "language arts" has been used in American schools for decades. It treats communication as a set of crafts that students practice and improve, much like a music or art class builds skill over time.
What students actually do in ELA
Most state standards group the work into four strands:
- Reading: fiction, poetry, plays and informational texts such as articles and speeches. Students find main ideas, compare texts and cite evidence.
- Writing: stories, opinion pieces, explanations and research papers, plus planning and revising drafts.
- Speaking and listening: class discussions, presentations and following a spoken argument.
- Language: grammar, punctuation, spelling and vocabulary.
In the early grades, ELA time also includes phonics and reading fluency. In high school, it moves toward literature, essays and research, often with a citation format such as MLA.
What does ELA stand for in school paperwork?
Parents meet the letters in a few common places:
- Report cards: a grade or level for ELA, sometimes split into reading and writing.
- State tests: an ELA test each spring in many grades, alongside a math test.
- Schedules: a block marked ELA, often 60 to 90 minutes in elementary school.
- Support plans: an IEP may list ELA goals for a student who needs extra help.
Note home from a teacher: "ELA homework this week: read for 20 minutes each night and write two sentences about the main character." This is reading and writing practice for the English Language Arts class.
ELA, ELD and ELL: three look-alikes
These letters often appear together, and they mean different things.
| Term | Stands for | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| ELA | English Language Arts | All students |
| ELD | English Language Development | Students still learning English |
| ELL | English Language Learner | A student, not a class |
| ESL | English as a Second Language | An older name for English learner programs |
An English learner usually takes ELA with classmates and also gets ELD support. Some districts use "English Language Acquisition" for that program, so a school may write ELA with this second meaning. If the letters show up in an English learner letter, ask the school which one they mean.
Saying and writing ELA
Say the three letters: "E L A." Use all capitals and skip periods. E is spoken "ee," which calls for "an": "an ELA teacher," "an ELA test." In a sentence:
- "My daughter has ELA right after lunch."
- "The ELA test has a reading part and a writing part."
- "He wants to teach middle school ELA."
- "Our ELA unit this month is on poetry."
You will find more classroom letters, from GPA to STEM, in the school acronyms section.
Questions people ask
Is ELA the same as English class?
Mostly, yes. ELA is the formal name many schools use for English, reading and writing instruction. High schools may still list courses as English 9 or English 10.
What is ELA in kindergarten?
In kindergarten, ELA focuses on letters, sounds, early reading, listening to stories and first steps in writing. It builds the base for later grades.
Why do schools say ELA instead of English?
The longer name shows that the subject covers speaking, listening and language skills, not only literature. It also matches the wording in many state standards.
What does an ELA test measure?
It usually checks reading comprehension, the use of evidence from texts, writing and language skills such as grammar. Formats vary by state.
Is ELA an acronym?
ELA is said letter by letter, so it is an initialism. Plenty of teachers and parents loosely say acronym, and in a hallway chat that label does no harm.