State details concerns with Fresno bilingual education

A state report released Friday confirmed that bilingual programs in Fresno schools fall short of meeting state standards requiring that all students learn the basics, no matter what language they speak.

Out of nearly 300 issues surveyed by California Department of Education officials, the Fresno Unified School District was found not compliant in 36.

The preliminary findings showed:

* That pupils who speak another language are not always tested on English comprehension and speaking skills within the first month after enrolling in school.

* Parents were not always informed of assessment results and are not told that enrollment in bilingual programs is optional.

* There are not enough bilingual teachers or books to meet the needs of the nearly 25,000 students who do not speak English. District administrators have long acknowledged that, and point to recruiting efforts and a newly adopted “Master Plan” to help address the need.

“At this stage in 1995 . . . Fresno is behind some of the other major districts,” said Norm Gold, director of the California Department of Education’s complaints management and bilingual compliance unit.

The district has 45 days to file a response and explain plans to address the concerns.



Comments are closed.