K-ELPA Reflection

There were three primary goals that this particular project set out to achieve. First was to ensure all parents and guardians had access to K12, MPS websites and enrollment information, including LEP families. When this project was initiated no K12 MPS, or the national K12 sites had a way for LEP parents to access information in their primary language or contact information on how to obtain an interpreter. At the conclusion of the 2015/2016 academic year, 100% of K12 MPS’s have information on their websites on the process and phone number to obtain an interpreter.

In determining my position on this complex ballot offering, I first reviewed the opinions of people who learned in multilingual classrooms, prior to Proposition 227. In general, it seemed like many of them considered their placement in Non-English speaker classes a source of shame and segregation. Many noted that there was a sentiment among teachers and other students that they were different, and even un-American because they did not speak English fluently.

Placing Serge in special education classrooms without administrating the test in his native language demonstrated how the test is invalid. The assessment did not accurately measure if he has a learning disability. Serge could have had difficulty understanding the questions, which gave him no other choice but to take estimated guesses. If Serge was placed in a general education classroom he would have still needed additional support in learning English. The placement of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) program would have been helpful, but he would have needed additional support to meet his learning needs.

If any class I’m taking requires a speech that must be presented in front of others, I immediately dread the due date for that assignment. While the student, whose turn is before mine, is reciting his or her speech, I cannot help but feel my heart race and the palms of my hands begin to sweat. No matter how many times I take a deep breath and tell myself to relax, I still feel anxious. My anxiety towards public speaking has been happening to me since as long as I can remember. I was eager to take the PRPSA questionnaire to determine where on the scale my level of anxiety towards public speaking falls. To my expectations, my results for the questionnaire, a 98, was right where I figured it would be. I found my score to be accurate because yes,

Whether they have just started to learn English, are developmentally disabled, of a minority, or of low socioeconomic class, students will take the same test as a middle-class White student, who has spoken English all of their life. If it does not sound fair, that is because it is not. Testing should be done in a student’s native language, and tailored to their developmental level. While it is not economical, this would most likely raise states AYP rates

The Toms River High School East Child Stud Team (CST) would like to provide comments and concerns relating to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), No Child Left Behind, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004 requirement of assessments in public schools and that all students must participate, with the sole focus on the state of New Jerseys decision to use the PARCC. Specifically, considering the impact is has on students classified with learning disabilities. I would like to urge you to think about reevaluating the procedure of using the PARCC and other standardized tests that are geared to general education students to assess our students because it seems to be doing more harm than good. During the

The primary goal of any school district’s English Language Learner policy should be to ensure that all students receive equitable access to the curriculum. The Office of Civil Rights memorandum (May 25, 1970) requires school districts to take affirmative steps to provide equal access to instructional program for students with limited English proficiency. The Illinois Constitution guarantees every child from kindergarten through grade 12, access to a free public education; which means, regardless of a child’s home language, he/she deserves a free and appropriate education (Illinois State Board of Education, 1998).

The article discusses how teachers are discovering that the No Child Left Behind idea is flawed, developmentally unfitting, lacking funding, and leaving more students, educators, and schools behind before the bill was passed. Later the article presents a short history about educational testing, investigates the argument of teaching to the test, and focuses on subgroups of school populations that are negatively affected by No Child Left Behind bill, distinctively students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, minorities, second-language learners, and students with special needs.

Over the last decade or so, important legislation has been implemented to positively ensure fair and equal access to a quality education for English Language Learners (ELL). Change did not happen without there being obstacles to overcome. There were many overturned cases that initially sought to strip English Language Learners of their basic rights to an education. Yet, there would eventually be legislation instituted to help alter the course.

Taking the Louisiana Literacy Test was frustrating to say the least. With only ten minutes to get through thirty questions, I felt rushed, uncomfortable and full of self doubt. I can’t believe you had to get every single one of them right to be able to vote. Did people they wanted to vote receive an answer key in the mail to prepare, or did the people who graded the test overlook some wrong answers for those they desired to vote? I thought I did well. I then proceeded to look up some answer keys online and realized that I got three wrong, which was infuriating because I thought I followed along with the instructions carefully, or as carefully as I could in ten minutes. After watching the video of the Harvard students not being able to pass

The beginning of this class coincides with the beginning of my assigning graded work to the students in my class. As I began to express the importance of vocabulary to the students in my class, it dawned on me that I must meet the same expectation in my course.

In the wake of educational initiatives such as No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top, standardized tests have become a central part of elementary and secondary school instruction in the United States. Students in New York have been affected by high-stakes tests that are increasingly the primary method by which the performances of programs, schools, and teachers are evaluated and ranked. Unfortunately, these test scores carry considerable weight in day-to-day school decision making with administrators, teachers and students. In order to ensure academic progress of English Language Learners through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), Title III funding has been tied to English language proficiency measures. New policies enacted at the national level have resulted in the mandatory implementation of language proficiency testing protocols in all states.

In this internship activity, I first researched Chapter 89 the Adaptations for Special Populations, Subchapter BB. I reviewed the policies as required in the Texas Education Code, Chapter 29, Subchapter B that ensures equal educational opportunities for every student in the state who has a home language other than English and who is identified as an English language learner. It is important to know the requirements and competencies for this program. I also became aware of the exceptions and waivers a district must submit a waiver for if it is unable to provide and bilingual education or English as a second language program. Once understanding the criteria and program design, I attended and observed an Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC) meeting where each student’s level of proficiency as discussed and educational goals were put in place for each student to master English language skills across all content areas.

“Where inability to speak and understand the English language excludes national origin minority-group children from effective participation in the educational program offered by a school district, the district must take affirmative steps to rectify the language deficiency in order to open its instructional program to these students.” (Smith, 1990)

There are not many advantages for English language learners whereas standardized testing is concerned. Teachers will have to create individualized ways in monitoring students’ progress to gain true assessment results.