State To PPS: English-Language Instruction Hasn't Improved Enough

The Oregon Department of Education has released its latest assessment [PDF] of Portland Public Schools' program for teaching English to immigrant and refugee students.

The findings, which follow a 2009 audit of PPS's department for English-language instruction, are mixed. The state found PPS had corrected some failings but still fell behind in other regards. For example, the state says English-language learners still are not accessing on-grade-level content courses, in violation of state and federal law.

Bottom line: The state is still withholding $617,918 in federal funds that PPS can access only after it's addressed the shortcomings of the state audit.

Last year, PPS started shifting English-language learners to on-grade-level courses, as required by the state. Even though that is what it appears the district should be doing, the results haven't been entirely positive, teachers say.