Report: Newport-Mesa improving in teaching English learners

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT-MESA -- The school district, widely criticized for its

inadequate programs for English learners, has already made significant

progress in that direction, according to a report released Tuesday.

The report, released by Comite de Padres, a unit of the State

Department of Education that monitors such programs, praised the

Newport-Mesa Unified School District for trying to make improvements but

also pinpointed several areas that need more work.

The district has established a process to assess English learners and

notify parents of test results, the report notes. But it is still lacking

when it comes to monitoring the programs and ensuring their

implementation.

District officials are viewing the report and the entire evaluation

process in a “very positive light,” said Susan Despenas, the district’s

assistant superintendent of elementary education.

“The report accurately reflects areas where we want to do more work,”

she said. “We feel good about what we have achieved so far.”

In her letter to the district, Comite official Laurie Burnham said it

would take “district-level leadership and direction” to improve the

program.

“We know that staff at all levels worked hard to make improvements in

the program,” she wrote. “The district will need to direct a significant

amount of time and additional effort into resolving the noncompliance

issues in a timely manner and ensuring quality education for its English

learners.”

The district has completed assessment on all English learners in the

district, about 6,000 students districtwide, Despenas said. She added

that establishing an English Learner Advisory Committee in schools has

also helped.

Supt. Robert Barbot, during Tuesday night’s school board meeting,

likened the report to a “physical exam.”

“It’s a good recommendation for monitoring,” he said. “You need to

hear it. . . . We have some work to do, but we want to meet it head on

and not make any excuses.”

The district is trying hard, and the changes are visible, said

TeWinkle Middle School parent Mirna Burciaga, who had complained to the

U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights about the

district’s program.

“I think now the district has to do what they were supposed to do in

the past,” she said. “I see the improvements and changes. I’m happy about

it, and I hope they are long-term changes.”

Also, the district has appointed Harbor View Elementary School

Principal Karen Kendall to the special assignment of writing a master

plan for English-language learners.

“That will be a comprehensive document that will outline a program for

all English-language learners from assessment and curriculum to

placement,” Despenas said.

The biggest challenge the district has faced is the changing

demographics of the area, she said.

“Last year alone, we had 259 English-language learners enter our

district,” Despenas said.

The district has 45 days to assemble and submit to the Comite a

compliance agreement stating how it will resolve each problem area

pointed out in the report.

Despenas said the master plan should be completed by May 1.