Welcome

Californians Together is a statewide coalition of parents, teachers, education advocates and civil rights groups committed to securing equal access to quality education for all children.

Founded in 1998 after the passage of Proposition 227, Californians Together joined with other organizations to foster full participation in a democratic society through quality education for children and parents from underserved communities.

What's New

Californians Together Launches The Seal of Biliteracy Program - Two Workshops
We encourage teams of district English Learner coordinator, curriculum specialist, board members, site administrators and teacher leaders to register to be able to work as a team on a district implementation plan. An overview of the awards, criteria for granting, and district step by step process for adopting a Seal of Biliteracy will be presented.
Californians Together Provides Input to Draft Federal Guideline for Race to the Top, School Improvement Grants, State Consortia Developing High Quality Assessments and NAEP Uniform Guideline for Test
Secretary Duncan and the U. S. Department of Education released guidelines for the expenditure of billions of dollars to reform schools and districts to shrink the achievement gap and turn around low performing schools.  Californians Together suggests that to reform the nation's schools and particularly California's schools, the new initiatives need to focus on English learners.  Attached is the input provided to the U. S. Department of Education on the Race to the Top, School Improvement Grant guidelines, NAEP Uniform Guidelines for Testing ELs and testimony given at a hearing on state consortia developing and implementing high quality assessments aligned to the new common core standards.  Dr. Magaly Lavadenz from Loyola University and Dr. Barbara Flores appeared before a panel to present our recommendations in Denver, December 2, 2010.
Comments on Race to the Top download
Final Comment on School Improvement Grant Regulations download
Input on NAEP Uniform Testing Guidelins for ELs download
Race to the Top Assessment Program Public Hearing Testimony download

Californians Together Announces the Seal of Bilitereacy
 
The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, school district or county office of education in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation.  Appearing on the transcript of the graduating senior, the Seal of Biliteracy is   a statement of accomplishment for future employers and for college admissions.

We are looking for school districts and schools that want to implement the Seal of Biliteracy Program.  The attached brochure gives direction and support for establishing this program.  Contact our office for more information 562-983-1333.

 
Seal of Biliteracy Brochure download
The Seal download
CSBA Sample Board Policy download
CSBA Sample Administrative Regulations download
Press Release Announcing Seal of Biliteracy download
ACSA Support for Seal of Biliteracy download

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.
STAR 2009 EL Test Results Press Release download

LAWSUIT FILED TO PROTECT PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS, NEGLECTED, MIGRANT, ENGLISH LEARNERS AND OTHER “AT RISK” STUDENTS
June 11, 2009: Concerned parents and community groups throughout California filed suit in San Francisco Superior Court today challenging State Superintendent Jack O’Connell’s decision to suspend monitoring of specialized education programs for Homeless, Neglected, Juvenile Justice, Migrant, English learners, and other disadvantaged youth for at least one year.  The money for these special programs comes primarily from federal funding under the No Child Left Behind Act, and must be spent to augment general education programs funded by the state. 

The lawsuit, Alejo, et al. v. O’Connell, et al, Case No. CPF 09-509568, alleges that the state must monitor and oversee the use of these funds by school districts to ensure that they are used to help academically “at risk” students overcome educational challenges.   The state retains a percentage of these federal funds  so that it can fulfill the promise it made to the U.S. Government to monitor and evaluate these programs.  The Petitioners allege that the state is unlawfully spending the money for other purposes and leaving school districts to do the same.

Alejo, et al. v. O'Connell Press Release download
Alejo, et al v. O'Connell Petition to State Superior Court download

Immersion Film
Watch "Immersion Film" Directed By Richard Levien, Produced By Richard Levien
Moises, a ten-year-old student, struggles to communicate in his new school with limited access to his native language. He has just immigrated to California from Mexico. He doesn't speak English, but he's good at math, so he hopes to do well on his first math test in the USA.

Using untrained child actors from public schools in the San Francisco Bay Area, “Immersion” plunges its audience into the visceral experience of a child who cannot understand his teacher. The film puts a human face on the education of English Language Learners and the punitive state testing system.


No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Reauthorization Recommendations

Below are recommendations for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and NCLB that could make significant improvements for English learners. It is hoped that other organizations and agencies will incorporate these recommendations into their comprehensive set of recommendations and Congress will be able to modify the implementation of the law to fit the context and needs of students who come to school speaking a language other than English.

[ download] (pdf)

Our Mission

Californians Together believes that all children are equal and have a right to a quality education to fully participate economically, intellectually, politically and socially in a democratic society.

Californians Together aims for an educational system that is funded and is structured so every child will have full access to a high quality curriculum and will graduate from our public schools with:

· Mastery of the core curriculum;
· Preparation for higher education;
· Knowledge and skills for productive workforce participation;
· Communication and literacy skills in more than one language;
· Informational and technological literacy;
· Connections to their families and communities;
· Skills for full civic participation;
· Cross-cultural skills and knowledge.

What We Do

Californians Together works hand-in-hand with its coalition members, educators and supporters of English Learners in a variety of ways, such as:

Developing education policy and advising legislators and policy makers;
Promoting the educational development of teachers and administrators through professional development workshops and institutes;
Supporting and encouraging parent involvement;
Seeking and developing collaborations and partnerships with private and public entities that are supportive of English Learners;
Working with various school districts and governmental bodies to develop strategies to best address the needs of all English Learners.