Oh Illinois. You may have read that DHS sued Illinois because they voted to block employers using E-verify after 1/1/08. Illinois says employers may now use it while they review the 'language.' DHS also said we can't give the bilingual children the IMAGE test instead of the state test. I'll be watching to see how this will turn out... My town has such a high proportion of non-English speaking children.


Senator calls for extension of consideration for bilingual students

STNG

(CHICAGO) .- The state senator Iris Martinez (D-Chicago) announced today that it plans to introduce a resolution calling for the continued application of the examination that measures the English proficiency of a student, formally known as IMAGE.

In a communique, the Puerto Rican official said the plan for the Illinois Board of Education (ISBE) to discontinue administering the examination IMAGE "could have disastrous effects on schools in the state."

Currently, Illinois students with limited English proficiency took this test instead of the standard test (ISAT) designated for the students who run the English completely.

However, the Department of Education of the United States found that IMAGE was too easy and ordered to be changed.

The ISBE another consideration, but it also met the federal standards, so that from 2008 they will administer the ISAT examination about 60000 students in a program of learning English in the schools of Illinois.

"We need to maintain a high level of education for students and school districts in Illinois. But in order to properly assess the academic progress, students must understand that the review assesses its achievements, "say the official Latin.

He added that the uniform application of ISAT could represent a serious setback for schools and districts, since under the Law No Child Left Behind, schools that fail to maintain the required levels of assessment, would be forced to undergo a programme tutoring or to have to replace teachers.

Federal funds for schools could also be jeopardized. The school with a high percentage of immigrant students would be affected disproportionately by huge-and the tax change, the senator warned.

"I am asking the federal Department of Education that will allow for an additional year, we can manage the review IMAGE in Illinois," Martinez said in the communiqué.

This year would be enough time for the Board of Education to develop a review alternative that meets federal standards, he added.

"To demonstrate what they have learned, students deserve the opportunity to take an examination that provides an assessment genuine, and not one that unfairly penalizes schools that most need our help," said the official.

http://www.laraza.com/news.php?nid=49803