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Championing the Success of English Learners

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Legislative Updates

Statement Regarding Governor’s Proposed 2021-2022 State Budget

January 13, 2021 by Ashley Aguirre

CalTog-Logo-2018

Statement from Californians Together regarding Governor Newsom’s Proposed 2021-2022 State Budget

Record Investments in Public School 

During these challenging times, Californians Together is proud to see Governor Gavin Newsom committed to making record investments in our public schools. The governor has taken a step in the right direction by allocating resources to address the needs of students who have been negatively impacted by distance learning, such as English learners (ELs), resulting in learning loss by providing $2 billion for in-person instruction and by providing $4.6 billion in one-time funding for expanded learning and academic intervention grants targeted to students such as English learners.

We’re pleased that the $4.6 billion allocated to support expanded learning time calls out ELs and other vulnerable students. As districts develop intervention grants, we hope they look at the different types of ELs, such as newcomer students and Long-Term English learners, who have different needs. We also applaud the commitment to addressing social-emotional needs, supporting the teacher pipeline in high need areas, like bilingual certification and we appreciate his commitment to early childhood education, especially training and professional development with a focus on Dual Language Learners. 

The proposal drives California’s path toward expanding dual language programs and multilingualism. The investments in staff professional development call out high-need areas, which can include bilingual staff. In addition, the $100 million investment in teacher residency programs includes a focus on bilingual education while the $50 million support for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and kindergarten teachers includes support for ELs/DLLs. 

We are also excited to see the continued growth of ethnic studies, which will be supported by a $5 million investment to fund professional development and instructional materials for Local Education Agencies (LEA) offering these courses.  

 

Areas of Revision

While there is much to celebrate in the governor’s budget, we also want to call out areas we hope will be revised before it's adoption this Summer.

  • It's concerning that English learners are not called out as a priority under the incentive grants for in-person instruction, which also need stronger requirements for adequate in-person instruction times. English learners, disproportionately impacted by distance learning, would benefit greatly from in-person instruction as language is learned through modeling from both teachers and peers. 

 

  • We support additional requirements for tracking attendance and engagement, but data should be reported and disaggregated by the student group to better understand the impact of this crisis on our most vulnerable students. 

 

  • Stronger language that ensures that Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) supplemental and concentration carryover funds remain as supplemental and concentration to increase or improve services for its intended students is needed. These are changes that were included in Assembly Bill 1835 last year, which the Governor vetoed and promised to fix within the budget.

 

  • In addition to the teacher preparation programs that will be receiving proposed allocations, the Bilingual Teacher Preparation Program, which is a "grow your own" teacher capacity program ends June 30. 2021 and should be funded.

We urge the state legislature to take these points into consideration and hope to see them reflected in the revisions presented in May before enacting the 2021-22 budget. 

Filed Under: Home-Latest, Legislative Updates

Congratulations are in order! AB 2514

November 21, 2018 by Claudia Vizcarra

For the past eight years we have worked closely with Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Instruction and have accomplished so much for English Learners and biliteracy for all students in California. We are thrilled to now have the opportunity to work with a dedicated leader who has championed the fight for a quality and equitable education for all California students, Superintendent-elect Tony Thurmond. His election brings energy and a vision of bilingualism and biliteracy for all students in California.

As an Assembly Member, Tony authored AB 2514 creating grants to consortia of districts to initiate or expand dual immersion or developmental bilingual programs pre K – 12th grade. He supported the appropriation of $5 million for grants to increase the bilingual teacher pool and knows that this is just the beginning of what is needed to staff the expanding demand for bilingual teachers across California. We look forward to working closely with our new State Superintendent of Instruction and to move forward with a positive and progressive agenda for English Learners.

As one of his first appointments, we are very pleased that Lupita Cortez Alcalá will be returning to the California Department of Education as the Chief Deputy Superintendent, serving as the leader of all Divisions in the California Department of Education.  Prior to her leaving the Department she served as the Deputy Superintendent Teaching and Learning Support Branch which included the Division of English Learner and Migrant Education. Under her leadership, she supported and led the development of the English Language Development Standards, the formation of a Division for English Learners and Migrant Education, supported the creation and implementation of the Seal of Biliteracy, the development of the English Language Arts/ English Language Development Framework and was a clear voice for bilingualism and biliteracy for all students.

Californians Together offers our services and support to these two great leaders. We look forward to working with them and continuing to promote high-quality programs and instruction for English Learners.

Filed Under: Home-Latest, Legislative Updates Tagged With: English Learners

AB 2735 (O’Donnell) is signed into law, ensuring access to a full curriculum for English Learners

September 11, 2018 by Claudia Vizcarra

When all of our voices are heard, English Learners and their families win.  Friday, September 7, 2018, Governor Brown signed AB 2735 (O’Donnell) into law prohibiting English Learner students from being denied enrollment in core curriculum courses, courses required for high school graduation or courses for purposes of recognition for college admission, such as advanced placement or honors courses.

With the Governor’s signature, we’ve reached an important step in ensuring all English Learners have access to a full curriculum.  The law takes effect on January 1, 2019.  We will keep you posted as to how information on these new requirements will be disseminated.  Thank you for taking the time to respond to our Action Alerts.

Filed Under: Home-Latest, Legislative Updates

Another Victory for Accountability for English Learners

September 7, 2018 by Claudia Vizcarra

The State Board of Education voted unanimously yesterday to include the State Seal of Biliteracy to qualify for the Career and College Indicator without the additional criteria of scoring “met standards” on the SBAC math assessment.  Now students will not only be recognized by the state for their proficiency in English and another language but also as College and Career ready.

Your advocacy by sending a letter to Dr. Michael Kirst, SBE President and Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, made all the difference.  Hearing from educators and EL advocates across the state was critical.  Thank you for taking the time to send a letter and securing the votes needed to promote good state policy.

Filed Under: Home-Latest, Legislative Updates Tagged With: Accountability, English Learners

Our Latest – California Budget Update

June 18, 2018 by Claudia Vizcarra

We want to thank all of you who sent emails, wrote letters, influenced others to write letters and shared our Action Alerts with colleagues and family.  There is much to be thankful for in the state budget that went to the governor on June 15, 2018.
Great News – The Budget
  • Maintains $2 million in federal Title III funding to be allocated to the 11 regional county offices of education, as currently allocated. Adopted Budget Bill Language requiring the 11 county offices of education to meet specified metrics in order to be held accountable for improving performance for English learners within their respective regions
  • Includes $5 million for Licensed Child Care Teacher Professional Development targeted for Bilingual Teachers working with Dual Language Learners in Preschool
  • Provides $437,000 in one-time federal Title III carryover funding to develop a tool/metric for teachers to use when giving input to reclassify a student.
  • Includes $75 million one-time Proposition 98 for the Teacher Residency Grant Program. It specifies that $50 million is set aside for special education and $25 million for other teacher shortage areas, including Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and Bilingual Education.
To Watch:
  • Approves $300 million in one-time Proposition 98 funding to allocate for low- performing students.
  • Includes funding for the redesign of the Local Control Accountability Plan template and for the development of a budget summary for parents to improve transparency of LCFF funds.
Concern:  
The language attached to maintaining the Title III funds with the 11 Regional County Offices which requires evaluation attached to improved performance for English Learners.  No other project or entity is attached to the development of a metric tied to improved English Learner performance. We will ALL need to be involved in defining what that means.
Disappointment:
  • Does not include $5 million for year two funding of the Bilingual Teacher Professional Development Grants.
  • Does not include funding for AB 2514 (Thurmond) for new and expanding dual immersion and developmental bilingual programs.
Ongoing work:
  • We will continue to move AB 2514 (Thurmond) through the legislature and hope to get the Governor’s signature.  Next year we will seek funding in the budget for this program.
  • Work on the interpretation of Title III language.
We are committed to working with all of you to move all the items forward and to be involved in the implementation of any new and continuing initiatives.  Our advocacy saved the Title III money and won the $5 million dollars for the state preschool and Dual Language Learners.
Stay tuned for future Action Alerts, we need you to respond quickly and share them with others.

Filed Under: Home-Latest, Legislative Updates Tagged With: Budget

New Regulations for growing Multilingual Programs are now available

May 22, 2018 by Claudia Vizcarra

In November 2016 California voters overwhelmingly (73.5%) supported the passage of Proposition 58 (also known as California for a Global Economy Initiative, or CA Ed.G.E)  to promote and encourage multilingual programs for all students.

The final implementation regulations have been released.  You can find them here.   You can find the education code that authorizes them here. .

Filed Under: Home-Latest, Legislative Updates Tagged With: Biliteracy

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