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Californians Together

Championing the Success of English Learners

Reports

New Report – Masking the Focus on English Learners: The Consequences of California’s Accountability System’s Dashboard on Year 4 Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAPs)

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21007 LCAP Report Cover (1)

Our latest report Masking the Focus on English Learners questions the efficacy of the state accountability system in identifying the needs of English Learners accurately. The report states that by combining data from two English Learner subgroups (current and reclassified), the system masks the distinct needs of each subgroup and diminishes the urgency to address the numerous educational needs of current English Learners thus undermining the central equity intent of the Local Control Funding Formula. The report’s strongest recommendation is that the state discontinue aggregating the two subgroups and instead report them separately for analysis and planning.

view and download the Report
view and download the Executive Summary
view the Press Release

Seal of Biliteracy Update

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We are very glad to announce that we have issued the 3rd edition of our Seal of Biliteracy Information and Implementation Booklet. We hope you find this updated booklet helpful when planning to adopt and implement the Seal of Biliteracy and pathway awards.

You can download the booklet by clicking here.

Physical copies are available for purchase in our store.

We also want to share this video that LAUSD prepared which highlights their Seal of Biliteracy graduates.

 

Every Student Succeeds Act: A Vision to Address the Needs of California’s Youngest Learners

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In 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the nation’s K-12 education law. ESSA includes several policy changes, including funding preschool and optimizing children’s developmental and academic trajectories by supporting the alignment of early learning programs and the K-12 system.

The purpose of this brief is to provide policy recommendations for the ESSA State Plan that addresses the needs of our youngest learners.

[Read more…] about Every Student Succeeds Act: A Vision to Address the Needs of California’s Youngest Learners

Bilingual Teacher Shortage Requires Immediate Action: Study Shows That Bilingual Teachers Exist, But They Require Professional Development

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LONG BEACH, Ca — July 11, 2017 –   A new report released by Californians Together shows that many school districts across the state are currently facing a growing bilingual teacher shortage, and that in the near term, there is a pool of at least 7,000 bilingual teachers who are well positioned to begin to address this shortage, and need to be supported with professional development. [Read more…] about Bilingual Teacher Shortage Requires Immediate Action: Study Shows That Bilingual Teachers Exist, But They Require Professional Development

Publication: Multiple Pathways to Biliteracy

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by Laurie Olsen,Ph.D.,  A Californians Together Publication

California became the first state in the nation to adopt a State Seal of Biliteracy, igniting a national movement, California voters overwhelmingly (73.5%) supported the passage of Proposition 58 the LEARN Initiative to promote and encourage multilingual programs for all students.  Parents and educators are now encouraged and empowered to implement multilingual programs, preschool through 12th grade, for all students.  Building pathways to biliteracy requires communities and school leaders to become familiar with the variety of language program options, the research behind them, and the conditions that support effective implementation.

This publication is a resource for all stakeholders as they begin to think about planning for and implementing multilingual pathways to biliteracy and realizing the opportunities afforded by Proposition 58.

Complete the order form with this announcement, and fax, email or mail with payment bycheck, p.o. or credit card to:

CaliforniansTogether

525 East Seventh Street, #207
Long Beach,California, CA 90813
562-436-1822 (fax)

shelly@californianstogether.org

Questions:  call 562-983-1333

Multiple Pathways to Biliteracy Publication 

Study of Year 2 Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAPs) Reveals a Weak Response to the Needs of English Learners

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Report on 2nd Year of LCAPs Calls for the State, Districts and County Offices of Education to Make the Remaining Years of LCFF about Closing Gaps and Raising Levels of Language and Academic Growth

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (April 5, 2016) – A second report that reviewed the Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAPs) of 29 key school districts throughout the state, and the impact those LCAPs are having on English Learner students, was released today by Californians Together.  This report is a follow-up to the year 1 report released in May 2015 and serves to document the key differences between first and second-year LCAPs in demonstrating increased or improved services to English Learners.   [Read more…] about Study of Year 2 Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAPs) Reveals a Weak Response to the Needs of English Learners