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Coachella vs State of California Lawsuit

September 1, 2006 by Claudia Vizcarra

Nine school districts and three statewide organizations have retained three major civil rights and education law firms to pursue a lawsuit against the State of California to enforce the provisions of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act pertaining to the academic assessment of English Learners. The objective of this lawsuit is to compel the State of California to assess the academic progress of its English Learners as required by the mandate of NCLB:

States must assess limited English proficient students in “a valid and reliable manner” that includes (A) “reasonable accommodations”; and (B) “to the extent practicable, assessments in the language and form most likely to yield accurate data on what such students know and can do in academic content areas, until such students have achieved English language proficiency.”

General questions and answers about the lawsuit

Oppose AB 1874 (Daucher) Categorical Education Block Grant

April 25, 2006 by Claudia Vizcarra

AB 1874 would create a schools site block grant of all categorical program, including the Economic Impact Aid funding. Send letters to oppose this bill that would allow the redirection of these funds for other purposes.

Oppose SB 1874 Sample Letter

Proposed Reading First Regulations Stop Funding to “Waiver” Reading First Classrooms

February 24, 2006 by Claudia Vizcarra

The State Board of Education will vote on proposed Title V Regulations for the Reading First Program. It will establish a Reading First Achievement Index that will adversely impact “Waiver” classrooms.

Reading First Title V Regulations

State Board to Decide Criteria for New Textbooks

February 15, 2006 by Claudia Vizcarra

New English Language Arts and English Language Development Textbook Criteria for 2008 Adoption. We need to make sure that these materials support the language and literacy needs of English learners.

Action Alert Sample Letter Rationale for Amendments Amendments to the Criteria

SB 385 (Ducheny) Assessments Consistent with No Child Left Behind Goes to the Governor’s Desk

September 20, 2005 by Claudia Vizcarra

SB 385 would require that California’s assessments be valid and reliable for English learners as required by the No Child Left Behind Act. This alert requests letters to be sent to the governor.

Court Remand Order

August 5, 2005 by Claudia Vizcarra

On August 5, 2005 United States District Court Judge William Alsup granted plaintiffs’ motion to remand the No Child Left Behind English Learner assessment litigation back to State Superior Court in San Francisco. Plaintiffs, including a broad coalition of school districts , Californians Together and other nonprofit organizations from throughout the State, filed their action in state court on June 1, 2005. Below is the court order and the press release on this action.

The lawsuit alleges that California has failed to perform a mandatory duty under No Child Left Behind to test English Learners in a valid and reliable manner and has failed to provide the accommodations required.

Court Remand Order PRESS RELEASE (Remand)