FW: ELL Overrepresentation in NYC "failing" schools

[monty@fairtest.org]

Forwarded to CEEELL List from :
Prof. Kate Menken
Research Fellow, Research Institute for the Study of Language in Urban
Society, CUNY Graduate Center
    e-mail: kmenken@gc.cuny.edu <mailto:kmenken@gc.cuny.edu>
Queens College Department of Linguistics
    e-mail: kmenken@qc.cuny.edu <mailto:kmenken@qc.cuny.edu>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Colleagues,

Here in New York we just got the new list of what are called here "Schools
Under Registration Review" (SURR) - this list names schools which are
failing to meet "adequately yearly progress" or AYP requirements in the
state in accordance with No Child Left Behind.  There are 65 schools
listed statewide, and 35 of them are in New York City. I spent hours going
through the data about each of the New York City schools and
unfortunately here's what I found:

     ?      Of the 35 schools on the SURR list in New York City, the
majority are schools serving large numbers of ELLs - their ELL population is
above citywide averages - meaning that ELLs are overrepresented in schools
failing to make AYP requirements

     ?     When the ELL population is not overrepresented at these "failing"
schools, I noticed that Special Education enrollment is

     ?     In total, 32 of these 35 schools listed (or 91.4%) are
disproportionately serving ELLs and/or Special Education Students

     ?     AYP here is based primarily on English Language Arts and Math
test scores, which as we know are questionable for their validity and
reliability with ELL and Special Education students. 

 This is an enormous problem because, among other things, it creates a
disincentive for schools to serve special needs populations. I know that
Kathy Escamilla has also found ELLs overrepresented in Colorado's schools
perceived as failing under NCLB - have others on the list found this to be
the case in your states? If so, could you please send me what you know, as I
would like to compile it. I go through the rest of the schools listed in my
state ASAP....
  
 Thank you,
 --Kate
 __________________
Kate Menken
Assistant Professor, Linguistics and TESOL
Research Fellow, Research Institute for the Study of Language in Urban
Society, CUNY Graduate Center
    e-mail: kmenken@gc.cuny.edu <mailto:kmenken@gc.cuny.edu>
Queens College Department of Linguistics
    e-mail: kmenken@qc.cuny.edu <mailto:kmenken@qc.cuny.edu>
Website: http://web.gc.cuny.edu/Linguistics/people/menken
<http://web.gc.cuny.edu/Linguistics/people/menken>



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------ Forwarded Message
From: <Luisoreyes@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2007 15:06:00 EDT
To: <Luisoreyes@aol.com>
Subject: ELL Overrepresentation in NYC "failing" schools

Forwarded to CEEELL List from :
Prof. Kate Menken 
Research Fellow, Research Institute for the Study of Language in Urban
Society, CUNY Graduate Center
    e-mail: kmenken@gc.cuny.edu <mailto:kmenken@gc.cuny.edu>
Queens College Department of Linguistics
    e-mail: kmenken@qc.cuny.edu <mailto:kmenken@qc.cuny.edu>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Colleagues,

Here in New York we just got the new list of what are called here "Schools
Under Registration Review" (SURR) - this list names schools which are
failing to meet "adequately yearly progress" or AYP requirements in the
state in accordance with No Child Left Behind.  There are 65 schools
listed statewide, and 35 of them are in New York City. I spent hours going
through the data about each of the New York City schools and
unfortunately here's what I found:

     ?      Of the 35 schools on the SURR list in New York City, the
majority are schools serving large numbers of ELLs - their ELL population is
above citywide averages - meaning that ELLs are overrepresented in schools
failing to make AYP requirements

     ?     When the ELL population is not overrepresented at these "failing"
schools, I noticed that Special Education enrollment is

     ?     In total, 32 of these 35 schools listed (or 91.4%) are
disproportionately serving ELLs and/or Special Education Students

     ?     AYP here is based primarily on English Language Arts and Math
test scores, which as we know are questionable for their validity and
reliability with ELL and Special Education students. 

 This is an enormous problem because, among other things, it creates a
disincentive for schools to serve special needs populations. I know that
Kathy Escamilla has also found ELLs overrepresented in Colorado's schools
perceived as failing under NCLB - have others on the list found this to be
the case in your states? If so, could you please send me what you know, as I
would like to compile it. I go through the rest of the schools listed in my
state ASAP....
  
 Thank you,
 --Kate
 __________________
Kate Menken
Assistant Professor, Linguistics and TESOL
Research Fellow, Research Institute for the Study of Language in Urban
Society, CUNY Graduate Center
    e-mail: kmenken@gc.cuny.edu <mailto:kmenken@gc.cuny.edu>
Queens College Department of Linguistics
    e-mail: kmenken@qc.cuny.edu <mailto:kmenken@qc.cuny.edu>
Website: http://web.gc.cuny.edu/Linguistics/people/menken
<http://web.gc.cuny.edu/Linguistics/people/menken>



**************************************
 AOL now offers free email to everyone.  Find out more about what's free
from AOL at http://www.aol.com.

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