Tough problems take creative solutions, and the school
district’s idea to open a charter school for English language
learners is a good idea, however it does come with significant
hurdles.
What the district – and other districts are doing – isn’t working
Tough problems take creative solutions, and the school district’s idea to open a charter school for English language learners is a good idea, however it does come with significant hurdles.
The idea stems from MHUSD’s latest test results and the widening gap among English learners and all other students. Just 19 percent of English learners are proficient or advanced in English Language Arts, which amounts to a 44 percentage-point difference between English learners and English-only speakers.
In Morgan Hill Unified School District, 45 percent of students speak Spanish, a fact that has compelled the district to look at the English learners and how it can provide more “intensive instruction designed specifically for their linguistic learning needs.” What the district – and other districts are doing now – is obviously not working. English language learners continue to lag behind.
Plan should include program to teach parents to tutor their children
Creating a charter school at the empty Burnett campus could create a culture of learning that transcends to the parents, who often struggle to help their children. The charter would be governed by the Morgan Hill Unified School District, unlike Charter School of Morgan Hill that is overseen by the state, and therefore funded and supplied with teachers and students by the school district in the same way as a public school. However, unlike other district schools, the new “dependent” charter school could use nonunion teachers. That would allow the district to add one hour of instruction to the school day without reopening negotiations with the unions.
“This could be a good way to serve segments of our population that aren’t served as well,” Vice President Peter Mandel said at the March 23 board meeting, “We have a population of ELL kids who are bright, but frustrated with the challenges.”
Idea could blossom, giving even more students a chance to succeed
The hurdles, though not insurmountable, are significant. First and foremost is to find the funding to operate the school. Under former Superintendent Alan Nishino, the district closed Burnett to save $400,000 a year. While the deadline has passed to apply for a start-up $500,000 grant from the state for next fall, Barrett Elementary School Principal Lisa Atlas and current Superintendent Dr. Wes Smith said there are many other grants available.
Finding the money is crucial. The second hurdle is dispelling the notion that the district is dumping under-achieving students in order to raise the test scores at other schools. Yes, it is the “elephant in the room,” but under the plan parents would have the choice to enroll their child in the charter school and boundaries would not be geographical but open to any district child.
One of Dr. Smith’s goals when hired was to close the achievement gap. Tuesday, 155 MHUSD students graduated and are now proficient in English, a skill that will give them confidence and the ability to reach their academic goals.
The idea should include some program to teach parents to tutor their children. Let’s give the idea a two- to four-year test and if successful, the district might look at creating a charter school campus that includes visual and performing arts or vocational studies, giving even more students the chance to succeed.
