Academic strength is a broad spectrum and looks different for everyone, but the playing field is not very fair. Every student is not supported the same way or given tools to support their needs. The Cabrillo Unified School District says that Latino boys on the coast are more likely to be assigned to special ed because of issues learning English. We need to help students who are struggling but do not have learning problems.
First, in Cabrillo schools, Latino boys have trouble keeping up with their peers early on. Most of them are put into special learning by third grade. El Granada Elementary School Principal Martha Ladd discussed this issue at a board meeting and noticed two main causes:
-
a “systemic challenge” in confirming whether slow academic growth is due to problems learning English or a disability
-
differences between school sites and staff turnover
Also, the state’s education authorities approved the district’s plan to address this issue as part of “intensive monitoring,” as Lad said. This is not only an issue on the coast. Kids are being wrongfully placed nationally. 900 local school districts in the state were said to be “disproportionate” by the California Department of Education in 2017. Special education students are more likely to miss out on general learning which causes them to fall behind their peers.
In conclusion, Latino students should not be lagging behind because of problems learning English. They need the tools in order for them to reach success. Schools have to do a better job of helping students so that no one is falling behind.
Lambert, C. (2021, February 17). Cabrillo: Latino boys more likely to be assigned Special Ed. Half Moon Bay Review. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
Read the original article here.
Read more articles from our writers.