Due to the release of a current state report, San Diego Unified School District may be in hot water for failing to comply with the legal requirements for the English learner program. Out of the eight schools evaluated, six of them were not giving English learners designated instruction, which is a legally mandated program that takes place outside of class and is designed to keep students with a first language other than English on par with their English-fluent classmates. Appealing to an unhappy state, the district made sure to send a reminder email about the issue to all principals and teachers in the district.
However, the schools also have a bigger problem on their hands besides an unhappy state. Back in 2014, funding for the teachers of the English learner program—whose job was to administer the program—was cut in the over 100 schools in the district. Furthermore, designated instruction was replaced by integrated instruction, which does not follow the legal requirements and hurts the English-learning students.
Maureen Magee, a spokeswoman for the district, clarified how the schools have always been aware of the English learner policies and the requirements entailed. As a whole, the state found San Diego Unified failing to meet standards in nine areas, ranging from core instruction to monetary needs and professional development.
The district has expressed its disagreement with the state’s report. Using the reclassification rate data, the district noted that it has increased, meaning more English learner students are becoming proficient in English based on the current approach. According to the state report, however, it is possible that the district is passing students prematurely. In addition, graduation rates declined in the 2017-2018 academic year, hinting at the lack of compliance the state report expresses.
District officials informed concerned committee members that a comprehensive report addressing the status of the program will be available in the fall.
