Christopher Coen
Melissa Sogard
nancylee1
Refugee parents in Burlington question why advancement in schools is not based on proficiency
Posted by Christopher Coen on November 14, 2012
Refugee parents in Burlington are questioning why advancement in schools is based on age and not proficiency and why students do not have to pass standardized tests to advance. Vermont has one of the highest graduation rates in the nation — 87 percent for the class of 2011 — yet, only 22 percent of Vermont 11th graders who took the 2011 state assessment, the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP), passed all four subjects — reading, writing, math and science. Parents say that some students are earning a diploma from Burlington High School but cannot fill out basic forms or read English, and aren’t reaching fluency even after seven years of ELL services. An article in the Burlington Free Press explains the parents’ concerns:
Immigrant and refugee parents from many parts of the world spoke with one voice Monday evening to ask for changes in the way education is delivered to their children in the Burlington school district.
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They called for better communication, a more transparent grading system and more rigorous standards so students graduate ready for college and good jobs. Right now, some students are earning a diploma from Burlington High School but cannot fill out basic forms or read English, several people said...
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More than 100 people gathered at the meeting…and was organized by Burlington New American Parents for Change. The group represents parents from a range of backgrounds: Bhutanese Nepali, Somali Bantu, Somali-Somali, Burundi and Vietnamese…
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Burlington is a hub for the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Association. The number of English language learners in the Burlington school district has increased from about 35 in the 1980s to around 500 now. About 15 percent of district students are classified as English language learners…
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Last spring some BHS refugee students protested outside the school about racial climate, ELL programming and uneven outcomes. The Burlington School Board and Collins have made a number of changes and pledged to make more…
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The American education system is very different from what’s in place in the home countries and refugee camps that some families grew up with, parents said. Harka Khadka, a Bhutanese refugee who has lived in Burlington since 2008, said many parents from his culture are accustomed to schooling in which course placement is based on proficiency, not age and to advance students must pass standardized tests…
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Only 22 percent of Vermont 11th graders who took the 2011 state assessment, the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP), passed all four subjects — reading, writing, math and science.
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And while Vermont has one of the highest graduation rates in the nation — 87 percent for the class of 2011 — state officials fret over the fact that many students aren’t making it through college. In 2008, for every 100 Vermont students who entered ninth-grade, 86 graduated from high school but only 41 went on to college. Historic patterns suggest about 24 of those would be likely to earn a four-year degree within six years.
Gaining academic fluency in a foreign language is widely recognized as a challenge. National studies suggest that many students need five to seven years to reach academic fluency.
Burlington school district statistics show some students aren’t reaching fluency even after seven years of ELL services. Read more here
johnmcmurphy said
I teach developmental students at a local community college and this is a problem for both the refugee and the American born. It should be the goal of every parent to encourage their children to excel in their studies to overcome this misguided philosophy and be properly prepared for college. -johnmcmurphy.wordpress.com