Eugene School District Board of Directors opposes Ballot Measure 58

This week the Eugene School District 4J Board of Directors came out in opposition to Measure 58. According to their resolution released on Wednesday, the measure would severely reduce the "district’s authority and ability to meet the unique needs our students who must learn English – while also learning academic skills".

If passed by voters in November, Measure 58 would prohibit teaching a public school student in a language other than English for more than two years. Education experts around the nation agree that the most effective way to help students learn English and promote high academic achievement has nothing to do with an arbitrary timeline.

In fact, children learn English more quickly, along with math, science and other academic subjects, when at least some of their instruction is in their native language. If passed, Measure 58 would take effective and proven teaching methods out of the hands of educators.

The Eugene School District 4J Board of Directors is projected to be just one of the many school boards that will come out in opposition to Measure 58 due to the negative and long-lasting impact it will have on children trying to learn English.

Below is a copy of Eugene School District 4J Board of Director's resolution.

Resolution

Statewide Prohibition of Teaching Public School Students in Language other than English for More than 1-2 Years

WHEREAS, Ballot Measure 58 and its resulting ballot measure would establish a statewide policy that English is the "language of opportunity" and mandate that non-English speaking students shall be immersed in English so they can be mainstreamed as quickly as possible; and

WHEREAS, Ballot Measure 58 proposes to place non-English speaking students in English immersion classes for state-specified, limited time periods based on grade level (a maximum of 1 year for K-4 students; 1.5 years for grades 5-8; and 2 years for grades 9-12); and

WHEREAS, this measure and its impact is not consistent with nationally-recognized best practices for serving non-English speaking students; and

WHEREAS, current, district-specified courses being taught to assist non-English speaking students who are unable to benefit from classes taught in English would effectively be eliminated,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Eugene School District 4J Board of Directors strongly opposes Ballot Measure 58 because it severely reduces our authority and ability to meet the unique needs of our students who must learn English – while also learning academic skills.

Adopted this 20th day of August, 2008
_______________________________________________
Chair, Board of Directors
Eugene School District 4J

related links
Measure Limiting English Learning to Cost Oregonians a Quarter of a Billion Dollars
Fiscal Impact of Measure 58
Ballot Title and Statement
Anti-ELL Instruction Measure Assigned Ballot Number

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Anti-ELL Instruction Measure Assigned Ballot Number

On Friday, the Oregon Secretary of State announced the numbers for the twelve measures that will appear on the November Ballot for Oregon's 2008 General Election. Of the twelve measures, eight are those that qualified from state-wide initiatives and four are measures referred to voters by the state legislature

Bill Sizemore’s anti-ELL (English Language Learner) instruction measure which “Prohibits teaching public school students in language other than English for more than two years” has been assigned number 58.

This November, Oregonians will have the chance to reject or pass this costly measure which would take control away from local school boards, families and educators and place it in the hands of convicted racketeer Bill Sizemore.

This measure, if passed, would also hinder the ability of ELL students to learn and grasp the English language, thereby having a detrimental impact on their future.

As the “No on Measure 58” campaign gears up, CAUSA and the Oregon Coalition for Educational Equity will need volunteers for canvassing, phone banking and organizing house parties, community and voter forums.

To get more details on the campaign and how to get involved, please contact CAUSA at info@causaoregon.org, or by calling 503-984-6816.

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Oregon’s Anti-ESL Measure Debated

On Sunday, an article appeared in the Salem Statesman Journal addressing concerns over Bill Sizemore's anti-ESL ballot measure heading for Oregon's November Ballot. Aside from it's unintended consequences, the ballot measure would prohibit teaching a public school student in a language other than English for more than two years.

Although the article titled, Bilingual Debate, included several important points on why the measure is a bad idea for Oregon, it failed to address a couple crucial details much like the ballot measure itself. The article highlighted that if passed the measure would “take away the tools necessary for children to successfully master English", "would hurt the state's economy", and "create a one-size-fits-all model that takes local control of these programs out of the hands of teachers and parents".

What the article failed to make clear was that ELL students who receive some native language instruction are also taught in English. Studies prove time and again that this is how children learn a new language best. The measure would only change the time allowed for any native language instruction at all failing to account for specific needs of the individual child.

As the article does point out, language experts in Oregon and across the nation say it usually takes non-English-speaking children five to seven years of bilingual education instruction to be ready for mainstream English classes. The fact that some children grasp the new language faster than others shouldn't be a guide for every child. The fact is, how long a child should have support in their native language should be determined by the local community of parents, teachers, administrators and school boards, and not Bill Sizemore.

The second error in the article is Sizemore's description of 6-year bilingual courses. That has no basis in reality. The great majority of the state's ELL students are already taught mostly or exclusively in English. Bilingual education per se is relatively rare. And there are no "6-year programs," whether of bilingual education or any other model. Students are entitled to language assistance services until they become proficient in English, and that amount of time varies from student to student. None of the programs are designed to be 6-year programs.

The fact is Bill Sizemore's ballot measure is more confusing than anything else. It is not grounded in reality, nor does it lend itself to the understanding of Oregon's process for educating English Language Learners. This again begs the question if such an ill conceived and poorly written measure should even have a place on Oregon's Ballot.

The full article can be read by linking here.

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State School Superintendent opposes anti-ESL Measure

Castillo opposes language initiative

Schools chief and Hispanic leaders discuss education

By Mackenzie Ryan
Statesman Journal

State schools superintendent Susan Castillo told Hispanic leaders Wednesday that she's against a ballot measure that limits to one or two years the time students can be taught in a language other than English.

Initiative No. 19 received enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot. If passed, it would limit the time English-language learners can be taught in their native languages or take English as a Second Language classes.

It calls for students to be "mainstreamed with English-speaking students in the shortest time possible."

"I'm really concerned about it," Castillo said of the proposed statutory amendment. "It's going to take a lot of us educating people about why it's not helpful." >>continue to full article

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