VA: Meeting Brings No Headway in 'No Child' Stalemate

[had_enuf]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 02168.html

TESTING OF ENGLISH LEARNERS
Meeting Brings No Headway in 'No Child' Stalemate

By Maria Glod
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, April 14, 2007; Page B06

U.S. education officials and several Virginia school superintendents met yesterday to discuss tests for students with limited English skills under the No Child Left Behind law but made no progress toward solving a standoff over what the local educators call an unacceptable federal mandate.

Federal officials called the meeting with chiefs of several school systems that are on the verge of defying an order to give grade-level reading tests to certain students who are just beginning to learn English. Superintendents Jack D. Dale of Fairfax County, Edgar B. Hatrick III of Loudoun County and Robert G. Smith of Arlington County were among those who attended the meeting and say the federal directive will only set up students for failure.

The three schools chiefs said they had hoped the two sides could agree on a solution. They added that they have not decided on their course of action for when exams for the state's English-language learners begin in coming weeks. School systems face the possible loss of federal funds if they don't give the tests.

"The letter that was sent inviting us to the meeting I thought held out hope that we might find ways to work around the position we're in with beginning-English-language learners," Hatrick said. "In fact, there was nothing put on the table."

The dispute centers on about 10,200 students statewide who are beginning to learn English. Last summer, federal officials rejected the test Virginia had given to those children because it doesn't cover grade-level reading skills, such as understanding poetry or identifying the main idea of a passage. The Virginia test instead measures how well students are learning to read, speak and write English.

Department spokesman Chad Colby said federal officials summoned the superintendents because they wanted to hear their concerns firsthand. He said Education Secretary Margaret Spellings remains committed to testing all children.

"The secretary feels it's important that these students are assessed at grade level so we know how to instruct them and target resources to their needs," Colby said. He noted that immigrant students who have been in U.S. schools for less than a year are exempt from the reading test.

Virginia educators said most students learning English take the same reading test as their peers once their language skills are strong enough.

"The small group of kids we're talking about don't read or speak or understand English," Smith said. "The reasonable person on the street understands it's inappropriate to give a test to a student in a language they don't understand."

Federal officials have threatened to withhold millions of dollars in funding, including $17 million to Fairfax alone, if school systems refuse to give the grade-level reading tests.

Charles Pyle, a Virginia Department of Education spokesman, said the state Board of Education is advising systems to follow federal guidelines but push for change during reauthorization of the federal law.

"It's the board's expectation that schools will comply, regardless of how distasteful they find it," he said.

[SOSADFORUS]

10,200 students that do not speak english WOW I feel sorry for the taxpayer of that state. (Virginia) I have grandparents buried in loudoun county from about 7 generations ago, I'm sure if they can see whats happening they are glad they are dead! now!