More than 10,000 graduating high school students across California have earned the first state recognition in the nation for achieving proficiency in multiple languages. State Superintendent of Instruction, Tom Torlakson, issued a press release today, July 5, 2012, highlighting the accomplishments of the students and the importance of this recognition.
Press Releases
Thousands of Students Honored Across California for Their Biliteracy Skills
Graduation celebrations this year will be greatly enhanced in fifty-seven school districts in California where thousands of these high school graduates will don special medals that recognize them for achieving a high degree of literacy in English and one or more world languages. These California school districts, including some of the largest districts in the state, will award the Seal of Biliteracy, a statewide recognition that honors students who have attained proficiency in English and one or more world languages.
Superintendent of Instruction Tom Torlakson Appoints Californians Together Executive Director to His Transition Team
Shelly Spiegel-Coleman, Executive Director of Californians Together was appointed to serve on the Transition Team for Superintendent of Instruction, Tom Torlakson. The Transition Advisory Team will provide strategic advice during his first few months in office as he identifies key issues impacting California students, schools, districts, and the California Department of Education and sets goals to address them. The press release can be found here.
Genuinely Bilingual Approach LA Times Op Ed
In the News!!! Dr. Laurie Olsen, researcher and Californians Together Executive Board Member and Shelly Spiegel-Coleman, Californians Together Executive Director, authored an Op Ed piece that was published in the Los Angeles Times on Sunday, July 12, 2010. Read and post it to you facebook or website.
New Study Calls for Systemic Reforms to Improve English Learner Education
LOS ANGELES — Systemic issues in California’s public education have created a majority of high school English Learners who despite many years in our schools are still not English proficient and have developed major academic deficits, according to a recent study authored by Californians Together and funded by the California Community Foundation.
STAR 2009 Test Results and English Learners
SYSTEM FAILURE! For the seventh straight year, the achievement gap between English Learners and English proficient children has widened. The State Board of Education and State Superintendent equally share the blame for what can only be described as a system failure. Children, parents, teachers and administrators deserve better.