Assistant Superintendent of Education Services Dr. Adaina Brown and Director of Education Services Sung Chi reported at the January FSD (Fullerton School District) board meeting on recent California Dashboard data. The California Dashboard uses state testing data and other district metrics to reflect how a school district grows from year to year. The data is broken down by ethnic and racial groups as well as socio-economic determinations.

Fullerton Elementary School administrators celebrated significant growth overall in English language arts and mathematics, with decreased chronic absenteeism and suspension rates. Sung Chi went on to address areas that did not reflect the district’s growth, particularly in the reclassification of EL (English learners) in the district. English learners are only compared by their ELPAC (English Language Proficiency Assessment for California) scores in the dashboard and not by their reclassification rates.

For a student to reclassify, they must earn a “C” grade or better in a regular English Language Arts subject or a four on the ELPAC test. Parents and teachers must also provide written permission for students to be reclassified as English proficient.

Reclassification is difficult and takes a lot of people working hard to make it happen. It also means that reclassified students no longer take the ELPAC, so their higher scores are no longer adding to the data for the district.

FSD decided to focus on reclassification for their students over higher overall ELPAC scores. Dr. Brown stated that this helps FSD students succeed better in high school, and it was an ethical decision – basically, it was the right thing to do for students.

The district implemented a multiprong approach, which included engaging parents by informing them of the ELPAC testing dates and preparing families, students in ways reflecting regular state testing preparation, and making sure students were prepared for taking the test throughout the school year and over the summer break.

Principals held parent meetings early in the school year to provide parents with strategies to help their students be more comfortable with the test questions and practice their language skills at home in a more purposeful way.

Last year, 337 EL students were reclassified out of a district-wide count of 1472 identified EL students. Almost 100 additional students were reclassified compared to last year’s numbers.

English language proficiency is difficult; students work hard and need support from parents and dedication from teachers and staff. The work does not stop there. Reclassified students are monitored regularly over the following three to four years and receive tutoring and intermittent support as needed to maintain their skills and learning growth.

The next scheduled FSD board meeting is on February 17.