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Citation:

Housman, N. G., & Martinez, M. R. (2002). Preventing school dropout and ensuring success for English language learners and Native American students. CSR Connection, Spring 2002, 14 pages. ED466343.

Annotation:
This paper summarizes the results of a forum held to discuss the high rates of school dropout among English Language Learners and Native American populations. A central theme emerged around the critical need for ÒconnectivityÓ. Due to deep ÒdisconnectsÓ between schools and studentsÕ families and communities, establishing connectivity is particularly critical for the success of English Language Learners and Native American students. Forum participants called for policy and practice that help transform school systems so that relationships with families and communities is more responsive, collaborative, and student-centered. The report groups key issues and effective strategies into four areas: curriculum, instruction, accountability, and school-family partnerships. Regarding curriculum, forum participants pointed to the need to offer academically rigorous curriculum to all students, value the studentsÕ home language and culture through curricular offerings, and include experiential education and service learning approaches. They also emphasized that teachers must be well prepared to work with classrooms of culturally and linguistically diverse students. The responsibility for this starts with teacher education, and extends to state licensure units and school administrators. When discussing systemic accountability, the availability and use of disaggregated data was considered critical for developing specific instructional strategies that target English Language Learners and Native American students. Finally, forum participants highlighted forging meaningful partnerships with studentsÕ families as a way to increase connectivity. They stressed the need for recognizing the Native American languages and cultures as assets rather than deficits, and conducting more outreach activities to bring families and community members into the school. The forum was held in Albuquerque, NM, in June 2001, hosted by the U.S. Department of Education, in partnership with the Region IX Southwest Comprehensive Regional Assistance Center, and the National Association for Bilingual Education. Thirty policy, practice, and research experts participated. This report includes further recommendations about policies and practices at the local, state, and federal levels that have proven effective for increasing connectivity, and ensuring the success of English Language Learners and Native American students.