In all of my years of reading
the IJ, I have never read such a disappointing article than the one on the
Marin County grand jury report on education in San Rafael and Novato public
schools. I have always believed that the grand jury members did a thorough job
investigating issues, but wow, did they miss the mark.
I can only speak for San
Rafael City Schools, but the amount of time, dedication, resources,
administration and effort that is put into bringing English learners up to
grade is astounding. The district has been communicating with its constituents
for years that English learners are a key focus of the district. They have
comprehensive programs, before during and after school.
I am amazed that the grand
jury interviewed the district and was unable to articulate the programs.
The grand jury recommended
the “gap be eliminated,” but none of its analysis showed what percentage of the
gap can be eliminated. Are the schools supposed to have an English learner show
up their senior or junior year of high school and graduate?
How about kids with no prior
transcripts? How about kids who are working to support their families and don’t
show up?
The grand jury cites these as
reasons for the lower graduation rate, but then faults the school for it.
Are these the fault of the
schools? Clearly no. Shame on the grand jury to suggest otherwise.
I have an idea; let’s bus the
English learners to other districts and see how well they fare. Then you can
come back to San Rafael and Novato and tell us how we are doing.
But we all know that will
never happen.
June 24, 2015
Marin
Independent Journal
Letter
from Kevin Healy, San Rafael
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