Audit committee adopts ESOL audit after auditors flag high caseloads and paperwork burdens

The Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools audit committee adopted an internal audit of the district's English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program on March 26, 2026, after auditors said rising enrollment, uneven staffing and redundant paperwork have strained services.

Auditor Mr. O'Connor presented the report and said auditors examined compliance, implementation fidelity, academic effectiveness and equitable access. The audit found the ESOL program now serves about 3,300 students across 27 schools, a sharp increase from 10 schools in 2023-24, and noted that English learners rose from 7.7% of the district in 2023 to 12.3% in 2025, a larger percentage-point gain than in seven comparison districts.

"We found the average ratio across schools with ESOL programs is 52.8 students per teacher," Mr. O'Connor said, noting the district's recommended ratio funded by the state is 42 students per teacher and that 18 schools had noticeably higher ratios, with several more than 10 students above the funded level. Auditors linked high caseloads and administrative workload to limits on service delivery.

The audit identified consistent procedures and recent structural improvements as strengths: ESOL was established as a department in 2024-25 with a director, teacher specialists and bilingual liaisons, and a 2025 state review found the district met criteria for English proficiency and appropriate use of Title III funds.

But auditors documented burdensome paperwork and informal collaboration between ESOL and classroom teachers. Teachers and bilingual liaisons described redundant documentation and limited, ad hoc planning time. The auditors recommended the district evaluate scheduling and service-delivery structures to maximize allowable FTE funding under state guidelines and conduct a formal review of paperwork and assigned compliance responsibilities to align workload with instructional priorities.

ESOL director Dr. Gomez-Cro said the district has reviewed its forms with the Georgia Department of Education and is working to move required data collection into PowerSchool to reduce duplication. "A lot of that is already in PowerSchool, but we're asking the teachers to copy basically the same thing," she said.

Committee members pressed for clarification on assessment metrics. Ms. Gamble asked how 'growth' differs from 'mastery'; staff and auditors clarified both metrics come from the state's CCRPI and end-of-course or end-of-grade assessments: CCRPI progress measures year-to-year growth while content mastery reflects achievement on EOC/GMAS.

Committee member Mr. Moss asked about language coverage; staff said the district serves students who speak 42 languages (about 85% Spanish speakers) and that the district uses bilingual liaisons, translated flyers and language-line services for less common languages. Staff also explained funding constraints: the state will not provide additional ESOL-funded positions mid-year if enrollment rises after funding allocations are set.

After discussion the committee moved, seconded and adopted the audit by voice vote; the chair called the audit "adopted." The audit report and its recommended management actions will be tracked through the internal audit dashboard and the management action plan for implementation and monitoring.

The committee will receive progress updates as management implements the scheduling and paperwork changes outlined in the report.