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
Upcoming Workshop - May 29, 2008
Choose One of These Two Important Workshops
"Quality Teaching of English Learners (QTEL)"
Presented by Aida Walqui
Director of The Professional Development Center
West Ed
Grades: 6-12
Or
"Small Schools and Learning Communities that Work for English Learners"
Presented by Laurie Olsen
California Tomorrow
Grades 6-12
Place:
Luminarias Restaurant
3500 W. Ramona Blvd.
Monterey Park, California 91754
Download the Brochure [pdf]
California’s 2007 STAR test results again show no significant improvement. According to State Superintendent Jack O’Connell, for the past five consecutive years, the achievement gap for California’s majority minority students, Latinos and African Americans, has reached an alarming point of “social disparity”. Superintendent O’Connell’s announcement fails to mention the lack of progress made for one of California’s greatest challenge -- educating its 1.6 million English Learners.
[download]
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)
•NCLB Testing Lawsuit Update:
On January 3, 2007, plaintiffs filed their opening brief and supporting evidence with San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer asking him to issue a writ of mandate finding California's system of assessments and accountability out of compliance with NCLB mandates concerning testing of English Learners. The filing leads the way for a final decision on the writ cause of action by Judge Kramer, expected after a hearing to be held as early as March 2007. Below is plaintiffs' opening brief, entitled "Memorandum in Support of Motion for Issuance of Writ of Mandate."
[download] (1.4megs)
Press Release [download]
•California English Learners State and Federal Accountability Systems Survey
We are interested in knowing how the implementation of No Child Left Behind and state accountability measures for schools that are identified as low-achieving, are placed in Program Improvement Status, or in a High Priority Schools Grant Program may be impacting English Learners and English Learner programs. Please take a moment to complete one of our on-line surveys listed below. Please share this with colleagues who could help provide us with this information. Thank you for your valuable input.
DISTRICT LEVEL SURVEY
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=763132959205
SCHOOL LEVEL SURVEY
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=466072959293
SPANISH SURVEY
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=18913078180
•New Report: Successful Bilingual Schools: Six Effective Programs in
California
Norm Gold Associates and
the San Diego County Office of Education
October 2006
This report profiles successful bilingual education programs at six schools
in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Ventura, California. It was designed to show
that bilingual schools are capable of providing opportunities for students
to achieve and sustain high levels of academic excellence even when faced
with challenges such as poverty and a lack of students' English proficiency
upon entering school.
http://www.sdcoe.net/lret2/els/pdf/SBS_Report_FINAL.pdf
•Californians Together President on CNN Anderson Cooper
View the
interview on the link below.
http://bilingualeducation.org/news_n.html
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