Page 12 - ELG1807 July Issue 459

NEWS FEATURE .

A bleak

outlook for

ELLs under PIC

DeVos’

relaxed

regime?

Trump’s education secretary is handing
more power to individual states over
education and school accountability – but
can they all be trusted to do the right
thing by ELLs, asks Anna Zarra Aldrich

A few weeks after Donald Trump education and has never worked brought in under the Obama bar for how it defines ‘proficiency’.
won the presidential election in in a school environment. The administration’s Every Student Conor P. Williams, senior
2016 he announced his intention daughter of a billionaire, neither Succeeds Act (ESSA) in 2015. researcher for the education
to nominate Betsy DeVos as his she nor any of her children have This move gave states a great policy programme at think-tank
secretary of education. attended a state school. deal of discretion in deciding New America and founder of its
The decision was controversial Concerns grew when DeVos how they would rate their schools Dual Language Learners National
as DeVos does not hold a degree in suggested guns should be allowed and hold them accountable for Work Group, told the EL Gazette
in schools to protect students student success. that the ideals behind this policy
from grizzly bear attacks. The lifting of federal shift could work in theory as it
4.8 is deregulating the nation’s regulations occurred even as allows states to prioritise the
One of DeVos’ main goals
states were already preparing
students that needed the most
million education system – something their ESSA plans, and made what help.
states must do to comply with the
that struck fear into those
But this, he said, is not the
law a lot murkier.
reality that has been emerging.
concerned with the rights of
vulnerable students, such as those DeVos defended the move, ‘When you leave these things
Total ELLs in US from racial minorities, those with saying it promoted ‘innovation, to the states, you get a fluid range
public schools disabilities and English language flexibility and accountability’. of plans by states that may or may
25% learners (ELLs). But a new template for states’ not know what they’re doing and
9.5% (2015) With the implementation of ESSA planning includes less than may or may not always have these
23%
DeVos’ latest initiative, critics one page outlining requirements students’ interests at the front of
21% believe these fears could become for ELLs – an inadequate focus on their minds,’ he said.
21%
reality. an important slice of the school He added that increased federal
19% Last March, the Senate voted population, according to those regulations (as laid out under
to ditch federal regulations working in the sector. the original Obama ESSA deal)
16.80% 16.80%
17%
States, the template says,
15.70% would ‘definitely’ have improved
must describe entrance and exit the situation for ELLs.
15%
procedures for their English Cutting them was causing ‘real
13% learning programmes, set long- damage to education equity in
11.60% 11.50%
11% term goals and ‘challenging the US,’ he said.
academic standards’ and One concern is that, under
‘monitor’ and ‘assist’ ELLs. their new plans, only 17 states
9%
States are allowed to choose and the District of Columbia
7%
which assessment they will use to hold ELLs to the same standards
5% determine ELL’s proficiency. as their native English-speaking
Cali Texas Nevada New Mexico Colorado Alaska
Each state may set a different peers on mathematical and
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