Close to 30 percent of San Diego school kids speak English as a second language. But now principals may be forced to scale back on teachers and programs that serve this growing group of students. There are several reasons.
First the district stands to lose $70 million because of proposed state budget cuts. Also, state and federal funding that's supposed to help support English learners may soon be spread more generally at school sites to help other struggling students and low-income kids.
The district's Debbie Beldock says some principals will have to do more with less.
Beldock: It’s not that we don't want to provide more support for English learners. We need to figure out what's the best support we can provide the English learners and then figure out what money do we have to support that.
Boldock says district officials aren't sure just how much money each school will lose yet. But some English learner resource teachers are preparing for the worst.
Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
