Civil Rights Groups to Congress: English Language Learners Being Left Behind

[Harold Schiffman]

Civil Rights Groups to Congress: English Language Learners Being Left Behind

WASHINGTON, Feb 25, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ --
Coalition Urges Legislators to Safeguard Civil Rights of ELL Students
in NCLB Reauthorization

More than 5 million English language learner (ELL) students are
enrolled in America's public school system, representing the fastest
growing segment of the student population with the highest growth
rates occurring in grades seven through twelve. As this student
population grows in size across this country, they are being left
behind in other respects. ELL students today are among the country's
lowest performing. For instance, in 2007, only 4 percent of
eighth-grade ELL students scored at or above "proficient" on the
reading portion of the National Assessment of Educational Progress,
compared to 31 percent of non-ELL students. In addition, only 49
percent of ELL students graduate from high school on time, with a
regular diploma.

The Campaign for High School Equity, a coalition of high-profile civil
rights organizations, will consider the disparities facing ELL
students and opportunities for strengthening the No Child Left Behind
Act of 2001 (NCLB) to provide stronger protections for them at a
policy briefing on February 28.

This is the third in a series of Campaign-sponsored briefings for
members of Congress and other policymakers titled, "A Stronger NCLB in
2008: Critical for High Schools and Students of Color."

WHAT: Policy Briefing: "English Language Learners in NCLB: A Civil
Rights Imperative"

WHO: Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA)

Victor Goode, assistant general counsel, National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People

Phitsamay Uy, board chair, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center

Peter Zamora, regional counsel, Mexican American Legal Defense and
Educational Fund

Brent Wilkes, executive director, League of United Latin American Citizens

WHEN: Thursday, February 28, 2008

2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: 2175 Rayburn Building

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, DC

The Campaign for High School Equity's briefing series will address
additional topics related to NCLB and underserved students in the
coming months, including "The Disaggregation of Data Under NCLB."

The Campaign for High School Equity is a diverse coalition of national
civil rights organizations representing communities of color that
believe high schools should have the capacity and motivation to
prepare every student for graduation, college, work, and life. The
Campaign was formed to address the unequal public education system
that fails to provide high-quality education to students of color and
youth from low-income neighborhoods. Members of the Campaign include
the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund, the League
of United Latin American Citizens, the Mexican American Legal Defense
and Educational Fund, the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People, the National Association of Latino Elected and
Appointed Officials Educational Fund, the National Council of La Raza,
the National Indian Education Association, the National Urban League,
and the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center. The Alliance for
Excellent Education serves as the Campaign's convener and coordinator.

SOURCE Campaign for High School Equity

http://www.foxbusiness.com/article/civil-rights-groups-congress-english-language-learners-left_493587_1.html

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