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Championing the Success of English Learners

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Press Release: Masking the Focus on English Learners

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State Accountability System Obscures English Learners’ Unique Needs

Study of local plans identifies key improvements to fix the system

 

Sacramento, CA – August 14, 2018 – Californians Together is releasing a new report today entitled Masking the Focus on English Learners which questions the efficacy of the state accountability system in identifying the needs of English Learners accurately. The report states that by combining data from two English Learner subgroups (current and reclassified), the system masks the distinct needs of each subgroup and diminishes the urgency to address the numerous educational needs of current English Learners thus undermining the central equity intent of the Local Control Funding Formula. The report’s strongest recommendation is that the state discontinue aggregating the two subgroups and instead report them separately for analysis and planning.

“There is great potential for California school districts to be misled by the results of the combined EL subgroup on the Dashboard.  The decision to combine this data from two student groups with distinct language and academic profiles masks and impedes districts from addressing their distinct academic needs” said researcher and co-author, Dr. Magaly Lavadenz.

The report also states that the system largely misses the mark in identifying research-based programs, actions, and services for English Learners.

Key findings presented in the report include:

  • Despite all 24 districts being rated at the two lowest levels for English Learner performance, only 6 mentioned a concern for achievement in English Language Arts and only 1 specified a concern for their overall achievement.
  • Minimal attention was paid to analysis of English Learner outcomes
  • Course access and targeted services were inconsistently provided to current English Learners
  • Minimal specific professional development was offered to teachers of English Learners.

“Obscuring current English Learner results has detrimental effects on districts’ abilities to address goals in local plans, set growth targets, focus program, and services and allocate funds for this group of students.  We call on the State Board of Education to rectify this accountability policy in order to ensure every English Learner can best be served,” said Shelly Spiegel-Coleman, Executive Director of Californians Together.

The study was conducted in collaboration with the Center for Equity for English Learners at Loyola Marymount University and reviewed local plans for 24 school districts that serve 23% of California’s English Learners.

You can view and download the report at www.californianstogether.org

 

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2018 English Learner Advocacy Institute: Now Accepting Applications

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ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS – ENGLISH LEARNER ADVOCACY INSTITUTE

Applications are now being  now accepted for the English Learner Leadership & Legacy Initiative (ELLLI) EL Advocacy Institute in San Jose, August 3-6, 2018.

Applications accepted: until April 27th, 2018. Awards will be announced in early May.

Are you a mid-career activist and advocate for the best education for all English Learners (ELs)? Looking to learn new skills, learn about the legacy of EL advocacy in California and join a community of other EL advocates?

APPLY TODAY

Californians Together, in collaboration with CABE, invites applicants to an extraordinary, four-day professional development event for selected leaders and advocates for quality education for English Learners. This is a fully-funded event (materials, meals, lodging), with support available as needed for transportation. Applications will be competitive, as there is capacity for the award of only 50 scholarships.

The institute will be based on design and materials developed for the English Learner Leadership and Legacy Initiative (ELLLI). (SEE: http://www.ellli.org/). ELLLI aims to equip anew generation of EL education leaders with an historical perspective and practical skills to further advocacy and action work at the local, regional and state levels on behalf of ELs and their families. The Institute features some of the state’s top EL authorities including current
ELLLI Fellows and Mentors.

Institute Format:

You will experience a four-day institute (noon Friday through noon Monday).
Participants must commit to attending all four days.

The institute includes presentations, discussions, case studies, film and hands-on activities that will further develop your understanding of the history and current context of EL education in California. The Institute aims to provide skills in planning and implementing advocacy campaigns, and to connect advocates to a growing community of EL advocates.

WHERE: The EL Advocacy Institute will take place at the beautiful Dolce Hayes Mansion Conference Center in San Jose. Lodging is in spacious double rooms. Pool and exercise facilities are available.

WHEN: Attendance is required at all daytime and evening events from noon, Friday, August 3 through noon, Monday, August 6, 2018.

The most competitive applicants will have:

  • Five or more years experience with EL education, in Pre-K through H.S. settings, in IHEs, or in community or advocacy organizations.
  • Some prior engagement in leadership and advocacy for EL education (e.g., CABE chapter, school, district, or county level, or non-governmental organization).

WHAT PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE:

Those admitted into the institute will receive all materials, lodging (double occupancy) and meals during the institute, and will be reimbursed for flights or ground transportation up to $300 each. Attendance will be fully funded for the most qualified individuals selected from among all applicants. Those who complete the four days will become ELLLI Partners, and will join an expanding ELLLI community, along with veteran EL advocates and mentors in our efforts to impact state-wide policy and practice in fostering quality education for English Learners.

HOW TO APPLY:

Electronic Applications available: March 26, 2018 – April 27th, 2018 5:00 PM

APPLY TODAY

All applications must be submitted on-line. No paper applications can be accepted.

Application deadline: April 27th, 2018, 5:00 PM.The Sobrato Family Foundation has provided generous support for ELLLI. Additional support for has come from the Stuart Foundation, the Heising-Simons Foundation and scores of individual donors.

Californians Together is a statewide advocacy coalition of powerful organizations from all segments of the education community including: teachers, administrators, board members, parents and civil rights non-profit groups. Our member organizations come together, united around the goal of better educating the almost 1.4 million English Learners by improving California’s schools and promoting equitable educational policy.

Learn more about the English Learner Leadership & Legacy Initiative

Questions? Contact Norm Gold, ELLLI Project Director

Download the Press Release

L.A. Unified is Honored with the Prestigious Multiple Pathways to Biliteracy Award

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LOS ANGELES, March 26, 2018 – L.A. Unified has been selected to receive the Californians Together 2018 Multiple Pathways to Biliteracy District Recognition Award.  The award celebrates districts that are leading the way to world-class language education in preschool through 12th grade.  The award ceremony will be held at the 2018 CABE Conference on March 30, 2018 at the Seal of Excellence Banquet which begins at 7:00 pm in the Sacramento Convention Center.  

“We hope to inspire the development of strong dual language programs, multiple opportunities and comprehensive pathways enabling all students to reach the goal of high levels of proficiency in two or more languages, fully qualified to earn the Seal of Biliteracy” explained Magaly Lavadenz, President of Californians Together.  

The district met multiple criteria to qualify:

  • Two years of an established State Seal of Biliteracy Program (grades 9-12)
  • System of benchmarking progress toward high levels of biliteracy by recognizing and awarding students along a continuum (grades K-8)
  • Well-articulated pathway programs Pre-K – 12th grade
  • Access to language study across the district and accessible to all communities
  • Hiring qualified staff
  • Instituted a district, school and community culture for celebrating languages and cultural diversity

Upon learning about their selection for this award, Vivian Ekchian, Interim Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District said, “It is such an honor to receive the Multiple Pathways to Biliteracy District Recognition. Our District has made a commitment to recognize our multilingual students, and to invest in our employees as we continue to support Biliteracy efforts. Pathways to multi-literacy are at the heart of L.A. Unified’s mission to empower globally-conscious leaders of tomorrow.”

L.A. Unified has a long history of supporting biliteracy and multilingualism including the unanimous passage of the “Establishing a Commitment to Biliteracy for All” Resolution that sets the establishment of a task force to research the goal of biliteracy upon graduation for students entering kindergarten and supporting the expansion of dual-language programs.

L.A. Unified’s commitment to  biliteracy is demonstrated by its many pathways. Currently, the District offers 101 Dual Language programs in Spanish Mandarin, Korean, French Armenian and Arabic. Next year an additional 35 Dual Language programs will be added.  The District also offers (K-5) Maintenance Bilingual (K-5) programs (K-5), Native Speaker (7-12) courses and World Language programs (6-12). Hilda Maldonado, Executive Director of the Multilingual and Multicultural Department describes the district’s goal as consistent with the Board’s vision to both promote bilingualism and serve historically underserved populations such as English Learners.

To support the District’s vision and goals, comprehensive plans have been developed to expand Dual Language and World Language programs and to increase the number of students who are recognized through the Biliteracy Awards, both the L.A. Unified Seal of Biliteracy and the California Seal of Biliteracy. The district has offered the Seal for 8 years, and in 2016-17 offered its own Seal to 3257 students and the California Seal award to 3112 students.

To ensure that a strong teaching force is available to support the increasing number of bilingual and biliteracy programs the district has developed career ladder programs that support teacher assistants, paraprofessionals and interns to receive the bilingual authorization which in the 2017-18 school year expanded to include a 60 member cohort. In addition to a “grow our own” philosophy, the district has also made the recruitment of multilingual teachers a priority.

The publication, The California Campaign for Biliteracy,  published by Californians Together provides details on the campaign whose goal is that California be an example for the nation in preparing students for college and the careers of the future.  The publication provides guidance for districts to develop comprehensive language programs, and describes award eligibility criteria.

 

Californians Together is a statewide advocacy coalition of powerful organizations from all segments of the education community including teachers, administrators, board members, parents and civil rights non-profit groups. Our member organizations come together around the goal of better educating 1.3 million English Learners by improving California’s schools and promoting equitable educational policy.

 

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Bilingual Teacher Shortage Requires Immediate Action: Study Shows That Bilingual Teachers Exist, But They Require Professional Development

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LONG BEACH, Ca — July 11, 2017 –   A new report released by Californians Together shows that many school districts across the state are currently facing a growing bilingual teacher shortage, and that in the near term, there is a pool of at least 7,000 bilingual teachers who are well positioned to begin to address this shortage, and need to be supported with professional development. [Read more…] about Bilingual Teacher Shortage Requires Immediate Action: Study Shows That Bilingual Teachers Exist, But They Require Professional Development

Santa Clara County Office of Education Honored with the Prestigious Multiple Pathways to Biliteracy Award

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Anaheim – The Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) has been selected as the first county office of education to receive the Multiple Pathways to Biliteracy Recognition Award.  The Californians Together award celebrates the SCCOE for leading the way to world-class language education in preschool through 12th grade. The county team led by Superintendent Jon R. Gundry will receive this award at the 42nd annual conference of the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) on March 31 in Anaheim.
[Read more…] about Santa Clara County Office of Education Honored with the Prestigious Multiple Pathways to Biliteracy Award

Californians Together and 120 Organizations Promise to Fight for Safe and Secure Schools

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OVER 120 ORGANIZATIONS URGE ALL CALIFORNIA K-12 SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES TO BE DESIGNATED AS SANCTUARY SCHOOLS AND CAMPUSES

Californians Together Calls for Safe, Inclusive, and Equitable Learning Environments for All Students In Response to Fears of Deportation and Hate Attacks Since the Election

LOS ANGELES – Californians Together with more than 120 community, education, health, faith, labor, student, and parent organizations in California, has released an open letter (click on link below) calling on California’s educational leaders to address the growing fear around deportation and the troubling spike in hate crimes, incidents, and bullying in K-12 schools and on college campuses since the election of Donald Trump. Coordinated by the College for All Coalition, the open letter calls for safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environments for California students, especially those who are most vulnerable. [Read more…] about Californians Together and 120 Organizations Promise to Fight for Safe and Secure Schools