District Administration - February 2011 - (Page 30)

Successful Strategies for English Language Learners other than English at home increased from 3.8 to 10.9 million, or from 9 to 21 percent of the population in this age range, according to the latest figures from the National Center on Education Statistics (NCES). The NCES also reveals that the Hispanic dropout rate is almost twice that of black students and three times that of white students. In 2008, 18 percent of dropouts were Hispanic, while 10 percent were black and 5 percent were white. “We’re not geared to educate every child, but to educate the best and the brightest,” says Dan Domenech, executive director of the American Association of School Administrators and a Cuban-American. Perhaps one of the greatest examples of inequity lies in a joint investigation of the Department of Justice and the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights that revealed last October that Boston Public Schools had failed to properly identify and adequately serve thousands of ELLs since 2003 as required by the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. A settlement agreement will ensure that ELLs in Boston schools will no longer be denied language support services, and more than 4,000 students who were inappropriately characterized as having “opted out” of ELL services will have ELL services made available to them. In addition, 4,300 students who were improperly identified as non-ELL students will be offered ELL services. As a result, the federal government is pushing for more reform. Last September, the Department of Education ate from high school and have a bright future. Garcia and Augie Orci, ALAS executive director, point to several school districts, including Dallas (Texas) Independent School District, Kent (Wash.) The Education Department released a new video produced especially for Spanish-speaking families that shows how college is more attainable than ever. released a new video produced especially for Spanish-speaking families that shows how going to college is more attainable and more affordable than ever. And last October, President Obama signed an order renewing the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. It renewed the government’s strong financial support for the critical role Hispanics play in the overall prosperity of the nation and highlights the administration’s commitment to expanding education opportunities and improving education outcomes for all students. Carlos Garcia, past president of the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) and superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District, adds that the future of ELLs’ success depends on strong district and community leaders who are willing to push for the best programs to ensure ELLs graduSchool District, Tucson (Ariz.) Unified School District, San Francisco Unified School District and Washington County (Md.) Public Schools, that have successful ELL programs, some of which have developed over time. “These may not be the only school districts that are doing well with ELL students, but they are districts that have strategically planned to address the needs of ELL students,” says Garcia. “It is critical that districts lay out a plan specifically for these students, or nothing happens [for the better].” Each of the districts has its own approach, and some use a combination of programs. In some cases, as in Arizona, districts must abide by state laws and mandates. These districts use the following types of ELL programs: Dual Language. Assists students in developing language proficiency in two languages by receiving instruction in From left to right: U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis; Jose Rico, deputy director for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics; Rosalinda Barrera, assistant deputy secretary for English language acquisition at the U.S. Department of Education; and Eduardo Ochoa, assistant secretary for the Office of Postsecondary Education, were panel speakers at the 2010 State of Latinos in Education Summit last fall. The two-day summit focused on identifying the best practices, policies and programs to boost the academic achievement of Latino students. The American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute hosted it. 30 February 2011 District Administration

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - February 2011

District Administration - February 2011
Contents
Going Out of Print
From the Editor
News Update
Technology Update
Safety & Security
District Profile
Administrator Profile
Successful Strategies for English Language Learners
Mobile Goes Mainstream
Virtually Possible
Problem/Solution
New Products
Product Focus
Superintendent’s Insights
Crisis Response
Student Counsel

District Administration - February 2011