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Board adopts updated English-learner instruction policy after public debate over bilingual programs
Summary
Trustees approved an updated board policy on English learner instruction (BP 6174). Public commenters were split: one speaker urged quicker transition to English, others and several trustees defended bilingual and dual-language approaches and asked for more data comparisons.
The Pajaro Valley Unified board adopted an updated English-learner instruction board policy (BP 6174) at its June 25 meeting after a public debate that highlighted contrasting views about bilingual instruction.
Chrissy/Christy Mlan, the district director of equity, state and federal programs, presented the second read and said there had been no substantive changes since the first reading. The policy lays out district approaches to instruction for English learners, including strategies for dual-language programming.
Public comment included a lengthy presentation by Bill Beecher urging the district to end bilingual education, which he said had failed Hispanic students and should be replaced with faster transition-to-English approaches. "If you take the English language learner scores out... the rest of the district looks damn good," Beecher said, arguing Hispanic students' outcomes depress district averages.
Other commenters and trustees strongly defended bilingual education. Trustees and speakers who had attended dual-language programs said students who complete immersion or dual-language sequences often outperform peers on multiple measures and that bilingualism yields long-term academic and cultural benefits. Trustees asked staff to provide data comparing program outcomes across sites and to explain how the policy would be monitored.
The board voted to adopt the policy. Trustees who supported the measure noted that the policy and related programs aim to support student learning and that data will be part of ongoing review.
What happens next: staff said the policy will be implemented districtwide and that data and program monitoring would be brought to the board as part of ongoing LCAP and site planning work.
