District seeks ways to educate non-English speakers District seeks ways to educate non-English speakers (October 30, 2002)

Small grant would help pay for staff programs

by Elizabeth Lorenz

Helping students who speak as many as 35 different languages master English is a challenge for any school district.

The Palo Alto district hopes to make it a bit easier by getting a small grant from the state for fourth- through eighth-graders.

While only about 200 students in Palo Alto are non-English speakers in those grades, the district still feels it is important to seek the money, which could be as much as $100 per pupil.

Carmen Giedt, the coordinator of the English Language Development program for the Palo Alto schools, says that although Palo Alto is a basic-aid district that doesn't rely on the state for funding and is wealthier than many districts, it's important to seek out the money available.

It would be used for such things as staff development, books and paying for teachers' time, Giedt said.

Palo Alto will be competing with nearly 450 districts, many of whom are less wealthy, so there is a possibility there will not be money available in the end. If there are more requests for funding than money available, the state education code requires that priority should be given to schools with the highest proportion of English-language learners.

"I am making sure we are applying for anything," Giedt said.

Of the children in Palo Alto who don't speak English as their main language, most speak one of six: Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Japanese, Korean and Hebrew.

There are 201 such students in grades 4 through 8, with the more than half of those in fourth and fifth grades.

Districts must agree to conduct academic assessments, including the California English Language Development Test, the STAR test and progress in English language development. They must provide programs to help students achieve a level of English consistent with the State Board of Education's guidelines. Supplemental instruction such as summer school or after-school programs must be available. And, districts must coordinate services and funding for programs like tutoring and reading programs.

E-mail Elizabeth Lorenz at elorenz@paweekly.com