Needs of English learners studied

GLENDALE — The needs of English-language learners were the focus of a hearing on Wednesday as State Deputy Supt. of Instruction Bill Padilla visited Glendale High School to hear public comment on ways to modify the No Child Left Behind Act.

Padilla held the hearing as part of a series of open forums designed to gather suggestions that state officials can take to Congress as it considers reauthorizing the act next year.

No Child Left Behind, enacted in 2001, sets federal accountability measures for schools, including stiffer requirements for assessment tests.

District administrators and State Sen. Jack Scott were among the hearing's panelists. Approximately 50 people, including teachers and parents from Glendale and as far away as Fresno attended.

"We want to know the kind of input you want to give us," said Scott, chairman of the state Senate's Education Committee.

Administrators and teachers expressed concern about a requirement that English-language learners must be designated "proficient" within a three-year period, as required by No Child Left Behind.

Students should remain English learners until they progress naturally to a state of proficiency, they said, adding that time should not be a factor in determining fluency.

"For English-language learners, the goal should be growth, not specific rate in growth," Glendale High School teacher Dan Cabrera said.

English-language learners who are also special-education students were also a topic of the hearing.

No Child Left Behind needs more flexible assessment measures and better strategies for English learners before they are deemed special-education students, said Sherri Mudd, director of Foothill Special Education Local Plan Area, which administers special-education programs in Glendale, Burbank, La Cañada Flintridge.

Of Glendale Unified School District's 28,000 students, 7,138 are English-language learners, school board member Mary Boger said.

Padilla listened and took notes during the presentation, but did not respond to public comment. The California Department of Education will put a video of the presentation online, officials said.