Programs for language minority students must comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Civil Rights Act states:

"Where inability to speak and understand the English language excludes national origin-minority group children from effective participation in the educational program offered by a school district, the district must take affirmative steps to rectify the language deficiency in order to open its instructional program to these students."

Also in effect is the 1974 Supreme Court Lau vs. Nichols decision that states:

"No state shall deny equal educational opportunity to an individual on account of his or her race, color, sex, or national origin, by the failure by an educational agency to take appropriate action to overcome language barriers that impede equal participation by its students in its instructional programs."

Under these laws, school districts have a continuing obligation to provide equal educational opportunities to language minority students.

There are 9,946 identified limited English Proficient (LEP) students in the Elk Grove Unified School District (R30 Report, 2009). These students speak over 80 different languages. Additional assistance to English Learner students is provided from the state of California's Economic Impact Aid (EIA) funds which are disbursed to school sites for direct services to students. Teaching Associates assist students in their primary languages, and students are taught in structured English immersion classes before they are mainstreamed.

Language minority students are identified through the Home Language Survey. Students are tested in their primary language within 90 days of enrollment at school to determine their primary language proficiency. They are also tested to determine their English language proficiency. These tests allow schools to appropriately place and service students.

For more information, contact Christina DeWaal, Nguyen Saari, or Violeta West in Learning Support Services at (916) 686-7712.

English Learner Advisory Committee Meeting schedule for 2009-2010:

September 24, 2009 6:00-7:30 p.m.
December 10, 2009 6:00-7:30 p.m.
February 25, 2010 6:00-7:30 p.m.
May 5, 2010 5:30-7:30 p.m. (Student Recognition)

All meetings will be held in the Robert L. Trigg Education Center Board Room.