Keep paying those taxes - illegals are expensive!

Immigrant students prompt new English language programs


County pilots programs to address growing segment of population

By Kate Yanchulis Staff Writer


The Fairfax County school system will be piloting intensive English language programs at Lee and Stuart high schools in the fall, aiming to address an inpouring of immigrant children into county schools.

The county received 1,541 children apprehended by immigration authorities between October 2013 and March 2015. Caught coming into the United States without a parent or guardian, the children are sent to live with parents, relatives or family friends in the country as they await hearings on their immigration status.

Fairfax County has received the sixth-largest total of any county in the nation. Only Los Angeles, Miami, one county in Texas and two in New York have taken in more children.

The number of these unaccompanied minors has grown in recent years, both in Fairfax County and across the country. The Office of Refugee Resettlement served more than 24,000 of these children in fiscal 2013. That total more than doubled in fiscal 2014 to more than 53,000 children.

While the number of students in Fairfax County requiring English language instruction actually decreased by about 400 this year, the number of students at the lowest levels of English proficiency increased by about 1,800.

Fairfax County schools welcomed 686 students who were new to the United States as high school freshmen this school year, FCPS director of English language services Rich Pollio said. A quarter of those students had received no formal education in at least two years, even in their native language.

Superintendent Karen Garza recalled walking into a world history class at Lee on the first day of school this year.

“Not a single student spoke English, and the teacher didn’t speak Spanish,” Garza said. “I walked away thinking, ‘We need to do something for those students.’”

Fairfax County will serve these students with new programs at Lee and Stuart offering them a specialized course structure and a clearer path to graduation.

“We know when students come into us new, we need to create a small, supportive environment,” assistant superintendent of instructional services Sloan Presidio said.

The students will take concentrated courses in English, science and math, as well as an elective to help them acclimate to U.S. schools. Right now, English language students have course guidelines but do not have such a structured program of study. A bilingual counselor and a dedicated parent liaison will also be available to help students through the program.

“Challenges bring opportunities, so as we look at the challenges we have, I’m glad we can provide better opportunities to this group of students,” School Board member Ilryong Moon (At-large) said.

Another part of the program will be directed specifically at students ages 18-22 who enter the school system. Transitional high school programs at both Lee and Stuart will offer afternoon or evening classes for these older students, and the students will be transferred to Fairfax County Adult High School once they achieve necessary English proficiency.

“We want to make sure our programming fits each individual student,” Pollio said.

School officials selected Lee and Stuart to house the pilot programs because of the high numbers of students in need of English language instruction at both schools. Officials will use the pilot programs to estimate the costs and examine feasibility of expanding the structure to more schools, Presidio said.

http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/...e=fairfaxTimes