The California Board of Education has approved new guidelines for textbooks. But a local educator who deals with English learners countywide isn't pleased with the board's decision. KPBS reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.
The state education board decided to maintain the status quo and not develop new guidelines for books aimed at English learners. Textbook publishers will develop materials based on the board's decisions for the next eight years. Donna Heath is director of English learner services with the county's Office of Education. She says the board is ignoring the state's 1.6 million English learners.
Heath: "And so if the state does not make any mention or include anything that's appropriate for teaching English to English learners - which is very different than studying English as a native speaker - they've left out that whole population which is more than a quarter of our county."
Many bilingual advocates believe a flexible curriculum helps students learn English more effectively. The new guidelines will impact only elementary and middle school classrooms. Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
