Reply to Hearing Testimony on FCPS Proposed CIP

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'll try to explain this in general terms. First, the feds told the states, hey, find a test and create some sort of system to determine whether children are learning. There is no federal "pass" standard. There's no rule except that the states must make up the rules and hold all of the schools in their respective states accountable.

The feds said there can be some allowances for ESOL students. It's up to the state to determine what, if any, but they need to develop a standard and apply it consistently across the state.

Virginia as we all know has the SOL. They also developed standards for when and how ESOL students would either be tested or included in a school accountability data. Up until recently, it didn't include certain students and others were allowed to take an alternative portfolio assessment -- the VGLA. That's now over.

That's one side of the story.

On the FCPS side, it had a really good ESOL program for older learners/recent arrivals. It opted to cut this program and essentially offer those students spots at certain schools (Stuart and Lee). The overwhelming majority went to Lee. Many people just opted to drop out all together, which is awful and tragic (we are assholes for not fighting to save the program but that's a whole 'nother thread).

So, Lee got a lot of new low level, older, recent arrival ESOL students (essentially the most difficult to teach because language learning gets more difficult with age). The program runs like a lot of programs that the county provides. For example, SPED has programs in specific schools and out of bounds students are bussed in for example (so let's not get it twisted, it's not controversial or crazy thing to do).

The county saved a few million by cutting instructional salaries by doing this.

Then Virginia decided to change its testing standards in a way that assessment people determine would torpedo Lee. Do they admit defeat? No.

Enter regional IB center.

I hope this makes more sense.[/quote]

Reading is fundamental [/quote]

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