California: Study shows English language proficiency improved since 2001

[Harold Schiffman]

Study shows English language proficiency improved since 2001
By Tony Burchyns/Times-Herald staff writer
Article Launched: 12/01/2007 08:16:08 AM PST


Tests measuring English language proficiency have significantly
improved since 2001, helping public schools steer more students toward
graduation, a new study shows. Standardized testing plays a critical
role in the academic careers of the nation's 5 million English
language learners, said Jamal Abedi, University of California, Davis
professor of education, who authored the 192-page report.
"For English learners, this is their future," Abedi said in a phone
interview. "If you don't have a good measure of where they are, they
might not be able to graduate." Past tests did not accurately measure
English proficiency, causing some students to fall through the cracks,
he said.

In California, where about 25 percent of public school students are
English language learners, students have to be proficient in English
to take other assessment tests required for graduation. Failing
proficiency tests can also mean students do not advance to the next
grade, Abedi said. There has been much research in the past 20 years
that has improved instruction for students whose home language is not
English, said Vallejo City Unified School District spokeswoman Tish
Busselle.

"It's very important to us because we have high standards for all
kids, and we want them to be accurately placed," Busselle said.
Lali Sircar, who coordinates English language programs at Loma Vista
Elementary School, said teachers are using more visual aids and verbal
repetition to help all students progress. Students struggling to learn
English also receive tutoring and extra help on lessons, Sircar said.
"I teach one such group of fourth graders, and I bring in a lot of
pictures and we say a lot of poems together," Sircar said. "We use a
lot of oral language repetition."

Roughly 30 percent of Loma Vista's students are English language
learners, said principal Dolly McInnes. Throughout Vallejo public
schools, 2,186 students took the California English Language
Development Test last year. The test measures progress in reading,
writing, speaking and listening skills. The test helps determine which
students are re-classified as "proficient," said Marietta Tretasco,
district assistant director of English language programs. The district
also uses its own test. Additionally, parents and teachers must agree
that a student is fluent. Last year, 11 percent of the district's
English learners were reclassified as proficient.

"I think the process is working," Tretasco said, adding she believes
the teacher's assessment should matter more than standardized tests.
"Sometimes students aren't in a good mood when they take the test.
Some kids are good test takers and some kids are not."
The No Child Left Behind Act mandated reliable annual assessments of
students' English proficiency. In response, the U.S. Department of
Education awarded grants to four consortia of states in 2002 and
directed each to create new standardized testing.
Abedi's report is the first attempt to summarize the progress of the
four efforts. Before 2001, more than 60 different language proficiency
tests were used around the country, he said.

While some may say Abedi's results reflect well on No Child Left
Behind, the professor said he is a critic of the overall policy. "We
are not doing well, to be honest with you," Abedi said. "But from a
scientific point of view, there are positive aspects and not so
positive aspects, so we need to criticize it constructively and at the
same time be able to mention areas where there are improvements."

http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_7610769
-- 
**************************************
N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to
its members
and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner
or sponsor of
the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who
disagree with a
message are encouraged to post a rebuttal. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)
*******************************************