LAMP program's test scores poor
TEMECULA---Parents and administrators of a Temecula charter school aimed at teaching students to be bilingual in Spanish and English are asking the school board to look beyond lackluster test scores and keep the school going. The 4-year-old charter for the Language Acquisition Magnet Program housed at Sparkman Elementary was up for renewal in June. The board voted to extend the contract until it was able to review the latest state-mandated test scores and the school's progress report. Last week, the school's former principal, Irma Cobian, gave a report that included scores on the Stanford exams and APRENDA, the Spanish version of the test. Scores were as much as 51 points lower than the district average. Results showed some gains on APRENDA and some losses on the English language test. When the board meets Sept. 18, trustees will look at the district's recommendation on whether to discontinue the charter school, renew its contract, or develop a modified program. District officials said their recommendation will not be made public until Sept. 14, five days before the meeting. Board members have expressed concern over the school's low test scores compared with those at other schools in the district. Parents and administrators at LAMP say the district should evaluate the school differently. "There needs to be a change of focus away from test score results and a redirection of focus onto the whole child," parent Michael Arroyo said. "You need to look at how the child is doing inside the class and at play . . . plus you need parental input." Cobian, who has left the school to open another bilingual school in Escondido, said several factors may have contributed to the lower test scores. The proportion of English-speaking to Spanish-speaking students is not equal in the second and third grades, at 70 percent and 30 percent, respectively. She called a 50-50 division best. The current kindergarten class is split almost evenly. The LAMP program immerses students in kindergarten through fifth grade in varying levels of Spanish and English instruction. Kindergarten students receive Spanish instruction 90 percent of the time and English the remaining 10 percent. The balance gradually shifts and by fifth grade, 10 percent of teaching is in Spanish, with 90 percent in English. When students are tested midway through the K-5 program, results might be lower than when students complete all grade levels, parents said. Board member Stewart Morris said he would like to see the program continue in order to see how the school's first set of fifth-graders will do. He said he supports bilingual education, but wants to be sure the district is using the best program available. "I want to see what a full cycle of this would be," Morris said. "While scores aren't everything, they are the indicators we use." |