California students log improvement in English fluency

Los Angeles Times ^ | April 23, 2008 | Seema Mehta

[Haddit]

California nonnative students showed improving English proficiency this school year, with more than one-third demonstrating a level of fluency that could allow them to take higher-level course work, according to data released today by the state Department of Education. "Becoming fluent in English can open a world of new opportunities for every student. I am pleased to see that more English learners participating in the assessment are making good progress toward English language fluency," said state Supt. of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell in a written statement. "All children need strong English language skills in order to do well in the classroom and compete successfully in the workplace. These results show that more students are meeting this challenge." In the 2007-08 school year, nearly 36% of the state's English learners showed "advanced" or "early advanced" skills on the California English Language Development Test, 4% more than in the prior year. (Earlier comparisons are unavailable because the scoring scale was changed last year). Additionally, the number of test-takers grew 2% to nearly 1.4 million students.

[Haddit]

One Third of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s Illegal Invading students can now understand English.

[sheana]

Maybe, but there will be mant more to replace them who don’t.

[sheana]

mant = many sheesh

[Eurale]

Nonnative = Mexican non-U.S. citizens

[vikingd00d]

>>One Third of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s Illegal Invading students can now understand English.

Not necessarily, the schools might have just lowered the “level of fluency required”.

[Will88]

“Not necessarily, the schools might have just lowered the “level of fluency required”.

Too true. Anytime we hear about improving test scores anywhere we, unfortunately, have to ask:

1. Were test standards lowered?

2. Did test administrators help students cheat?