Facts on Funding Facts on Funding ESL Staff:ESL Staff:

The Good, The BadThe Good, The Badand the UGLYand the UGLY

US Department of EducationUS Department of Education Growth in Overall vs. LEP Enrollment K-12Growth in Overall vs. LEP Enrollment K-12

LEP Growth Rate 1994-2005LEP Growth Rate 1994-2005

DEMOGRAPHIC REALITY √DEMOGRAPHIC REALITY √

The USDOE projects that by 2015 30% of The USDOE projects that by 2015 30% of the children in US schools will be English the children in US schools will be English Language Learners.Language Learners.

In 2006-07, 36 of 55 WV counties In 2006-07, 36 of 55 WV counties

reported enrollments of LEP students. reported enrollments of LEP students.

21 of those counties received Title III 21 of those counties received Title III K-12 ESL grants.K-12 ESL grants.

CLASSROOM REALITY CLASSROOM REALITY √√

The average student spends 5-12 years The average student spends 5-12 years reaching full academic proficiency in a reaching full academic proficiency in a new language.new language.

Limited English Proficient students are Limited English Proficient students are expected to meet the same academic expected to meet the same academic standards as their peers while ALSO standards as their peers while ALSO learning the language used for their learning the language used for their instruction.instruction.

How has WV reacted?How has WV reacted?

Title 126, of WV Legislative Rule Title 126, of WV Legislative Rule BOE passed in 2004… BOE passed in 2004… GOOD!GOOD!

It specifies definitions, standards, and county It specifies definitions, standards, and county responsibilities regarding LEP students in WV responsibilities regarding LEP students in WV public schools in compliance with NCLB, and public schools in compliance with NCLB, and education and civil rights laweducation and civil rights law

But…But… The legislature did The legislature did NOT NOT provide provide

state funding for WV Title 126 at state funding for WV Title 126 at the county level… the county level… BAD!BAD!

Federal Title III grants help, but Federal Title III grants help, but are given to are given to supplement, not supplement, not supplantsupplant state and local funding. state and local funding.

How do WV counties How do WV counties pay for ESL instruction?pay for ESL instruction?

8 counties paid ESL staff with local funds8 counties paid ESL staff with local funds 2 used Title III and local funds2 used Title III and local funds 4 mixed Title I, Title III and local funds4 mixed Title I, Title III and local funds 1 used Title VI funds1 used Title VI funds

Several counted LEP students, but serve Several counted LEP students, but serve none of themnone of them

Do Do otherother counties choose NOT to report counties choose NOT to report students they can’t afford to serve? students they can’t afford to serve?

Hiring Methods Vary Widely, TooHiring Methods Vary Widely, Too

5 counties contract ESL teachers 5 counties contract ESL teachers with outside agencies to avoid with outside agencies to avoid paying benefitspaying benefits

10 post jobs in the district10 post jobs in the district 1 contracts and posts1 contracts and posts 1 uses extra duty pay1 uses extra duty pay

How does WV Compare to other How does WV Compare to other States?States?

Over 40 states have Over 40 states have legislation to fund legislation to fund

ESL programs ESL programs ((A Survey of State ELL/ESL Funding SystemsA Survey of State ELL/ESL Funding Systems, Education , Education

Commission of States, Commission of States, www.ecs.orgwww.ecs.org ) )

It Got UGLY in ArizonaIt Got UGLY in Arizona

Attorneys for Arizona lawmakers asked for more Attorneys for Arizona lawmakers asked for more time before a federal judge found legislators in time before a federal judge found legislators in contempt of court and fined the state millions of contempt of court and fined the state millions of dollars for failing to adequately fund K-12 ESL dollars for failing to adequately fund K-12 ESL programs. programs. Capitol Media Services (AZ) August 27, 2007Capitol Media Services (AZ) August 27, 2007

UPDATE: May 2008… Arizona UPDATE: May 2008… Arizona settledsettled its lengthy and expensive court battle its lengthy and expensive court battle by passing a law to increase ESL by passing a law to increase ESL funding.funding.

Question for Question for WV Law MakersWV Law Makers

Can a county implement WV Title Can a county implement WV Title 126 using only local funds and 126 using only local funds and

federal Title III funds?federal Title III funds?

NO!NO!

Cabell County EXAMPLECabell County EXAMPLE2006-20072006-2007

LEP EnrollmentLEP Enrollment: 91 students : 91 students actively served; another 50+ actively served; another 50+ monitored as required by lawmonitored as required by law

Title III GrantTitle III Grant: $24,300: $24,300

Salaries for ESL in Cabell Salaries for ESL in Cabell County, 2006-2007County, 2006-2007

NeededNeeded4.5 “highly qualified” ESL teachers4.5 “highly qualified” ESL teachers atat $70,000 each = $70,000 each = $315,000$315,000

Actual hiresActual hires4 part time staff, no benefits at 4 part time staff, no benefits at $25,000 each and 1/2 voc. ed. ESL $25,000 each and 1/2 voc. ed. ESL

teacher at $35,000 teacher at $35,000 = = $135,000$135,000

Title III GrantTitle III Grant $24,300$24,300

OtherOther Mandated ESL Expenditures Mandated ESL Expenditures Per Per NCLB NCLB and and Legislative Rule 126, BOE, 2004Legislative Rule 126, BOE, 2004

HQ Professional DevelopmentHQ Professional Development– for 200-500 mainstream teachers providing for 200-500 mainstream teachers providing

sheltered English content instruction: sheltered English content instruction: $10,000$10,000– for ESL teachers: for ESL teachers: $10,000$10,000

ESL materials for students: ESL materials for students: $10,000$10,000 Transportation, test materials, proctors, aides etc. Transportation, test materials, proctors, aides etc.

for WESTELL: for WESTELL: $5000+$5000+ Promoting ESL Family Involvement: Promoting ESL Family Involvement: $5000$5000 In-county travel cost for ESL teachers: In-county travel cost for ESL teachers: $4000+$4000+

Cabell’s Funding GapCabell’s Funding Gap

Total projected Cabell County costs Total projected Cabell County costs to provide mandated ESL program:to provide mandated ESL program: $4000 per student$4000 per student

Title III Grant at 2006 rate: Title III Grant at 2006 rate: $267 per student$267 per student

ESL Funding gap: ESL Funding gap: $3,733 per LEP student$3,733 per LEP student

The Legislative Challenge The Legislative Challenge

NowNow is the time for the WV is the time for the WV Legislature to establish a Legislature to establish a state funding mechanism for state funding mechanism for K-12 English as a Second K-12 English as a Second Language programs.Language programs.

OUR BEST NEWS YET!OUR BEST NEWS YET!WV 2008 House Concurrent WV 2008 House Concurrent

Resolution Requests ESL StudyResolution Requests ESL Study

Passed February 28, 2008 Passed February 28, 2008

22 Co-sponsors from the House Education 22 Co-sponsors from the House Education CommitteeCommittee

Also supported by the leadership and Also supported by the leadership and members of the Senate Education members of the Senate Education CommitteeCommittee

February 28, 2008February 28, 2008House Concurrent Resolution No. 81House Concurrent Resolution No. 81

HCR 81 requests the joint HCR 81 requests the joint committee on government committee on government

and finance to study funding and finance to study funding of supplemental state aid to of supplemental state aid to

instruct Limited English instruct Limited English Proficient students.Proficient students.

GOOD! GOOD! GOOD! GOOD! GOOD!GOOD! GOOD! GOOD! GOOD! GOOD!

Reasons Listed by the Committee:Reasons Listed by the Committee:

WV data on LEPs indicates:WV data on LEPs indicates:– Number of LEP students is increasingNumber of LEP students is increasing– Unequal demands are made on Unequal demands are made on

instructional dollars in various countiesinstructional dollars in various counties

LEP definitions, identification, LEP definitions, identification, counting, testing, and monitoring are counting, testing, and monitoring are already in placealready in place

House Resolution No. 81 House Resolution No. 81 Requests that the Joint Committee Requests that the Joint Committee

on Government and Financeon Government and Finance……

conduct a studyconduct a study on providing state aid for on providing state aid for ESL instruction, and ESL instruction, and

report conclusions, recommendations, report conclusions, recommendations, and drafts of any legislation necessaryand drafts of any legislation necessary to the regular session of the Legislature, to the regular session of the Legislature, 2009. 2009.

Turning a Study into a LawTurning a Study into a Law

Legislators need to hear from their Legislators need to hear from their local constituents.local constituents.

As an informed citizen, YOU can tell As an informed citizen, YOU can tell them this legislation matters them this legislation matters

Encourage others to contact Encourage others to contact legislators, too.legislators, too.

Are state employees forbidden to Are state employees forbidden to “lobby” the legislature?“lobby” the legislature?

Requesting a desired action from elected Requesting a desired action from elected officials (lobbying) is a legal right…officials (lobbying) is a legal right…

but as state employees but as state employees we we AREARE required required NOTNOT to use public work time and to use public work time and equipment. Contacts must be made away equipment. Contacts must be made away from the workplace.from the workplace.

Sharing requested information is not Sharing requested information is not lobbying, and can take place at work.lobbying, and can take place at work.

You CAN make a differenceYou CAN make a difference

““Never doubt that a small group Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever it is the only thing that ever has.”has.”

Margaret MeadMargaret Mead

For more Information:For more Information:

Allyson Schoenlein, Title III Allyson Schoenlein, Title III Director, Cabell County Schools Director, Cabell County Schools 304-528-5005 or email 304-528-5005 or email aschoenl@access.k12.wv.usaschoenl@access.k12.wv.us

Jane Wagner, WVTESOL Board Jane Wagner, WVTESOL Board Member, 304-724-8130 or Member, 304-724-8130 or email email esljefferson@yahoocom esljefferson@yahoocom