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Two San Bernardino County school districts have agreed to bolster services for English learners so those students have access to the same educational opportunities as their peers, the Justice Department recently announced.
Federal investigations found that neither San Bernardino City Unified or Colton Joint Unified school districts was providing English learners “with the necessary services and supports to become fluent in English, or to meaningfully participate in core content classes like math, science or social studies,” according to Justice Department officials in a news release.
Investigators first reviewed both districts’ services for English learners with disabilities and their gifted and talented programs in 2010, according to the respective settlement agreements. At that time, the probes identified issues the districts needed to fix to comply with the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974.
More extensive federal reviews in San Bernardino and in Colton were conducted in 2018 and 2020.
The latest reviews revealed both districts failed to ensure that all teachers providing English-language instruction were qualified, officials said. Consequently, certain students did not have access to the language services they needed to become fluent.
The investigations also found that teachers of core subjects – math, science and social studies – were often not trained and qualified to provide the supports that English-learner students need to learn grade-level material, according to the news releases.
San Bernardino City Unified School District serves approximately 10,000 English learners, spokeswoman Maria Garcia wrote in an email.
“Our top priority,” she wrote, “is that all students, regardless of who they are and where they come from, receive the high-quality education they deserve.”
Announced Dec. 16, the settlement agreement in San Bernardino, Garcia continued, “serves as a road map to ensure SBCUSD continues with its progress, and we are confident that we will comply with the requirements with fidelity.”
A Colton school district spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday, Dec. 22.
The pacts with the Justice Department require the San Bernardino and Colton school districts to provide language instruction to English learners to help them develop fluency, according to the releases.
Additionally, district officials will ensure that those in charge of that instruction are trained and certified.
Federal officials said the districts will provide training to teachers of core classes – math, science and social studies – on the use of tools that help English learners understand the content of those courses.
The districts are to monitor and track student progress and identify whether additional services or supports are needed so English learners have access to gifted and talented programs and advanced courses, including Advanced Placement classes.
District leaders must provide federal officials annual compliance reports electronically the next three school years.
“Students learning English have a right to receive an education equal to that of their classmates,” Kristen Clarke, assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, said in the release. “School districts have an obligation to overcome language barriers and support English learners in participating fully in their schools’ academic programs.”
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