This report is the culmination of a process that began in 1994, at a planning meeting to determine whether there was a sufficient knowledge base to inform the development of a research agenda on the education of language minority children. A committee was established to review what is known about the linguistic, cognitive, and social processes involved in the education of English language learners. Published information was reviewed in the areas of language, literacy, learning, and social processes, assessment and evaluation, studies of effective instruction and teacher education, and national education statistics. Infrastructure issues were addressed through a primary data collection effort. The report shows that considerable knowledge is available about educating English language learners and bilingual students. Findings about the state of knowledge and research needs are summarized in the following chapters: (1) "Overview"; (2) "Bilingualism and Second-Language Learning"; (3) "Cognitive Aspects of School Learning: Literacy Development and Content Learning"; (4) "The Social Context of School Learning"; (5) "Student Assessment"; (6) "Program Evaluation"; (7) "Studies of School and Classroom Effectiveness"; (8) "Preparation and Development of Teachers Serving English-Language Learners"; (9) "Estimating Population Parameters"; (10) "Issues Related to the Research Infrastructure"; and (11) "Priorities for Research." Four appendixes discuss the research infrastructure, interviews conducted, funded research activities, and committee sources. Each chapter contains references. (Contains two tables). (SLD)