More than 24,000 English-learners in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) have attained fluency in English, increasing the district’s 2016-17 reclassification rate to 17.2 percent. The reclassification rate pertains to students who were formerly English-learners but have been reclassified as being fluent in English.

Recently released data on English-learners show the reclassification rate increased by 5.6 percent from the previous year, returning the district to the record-high rate it achieved in 2014-15. Hilda Maldonado, executive director of the Multilingual and Multicultural Education Department, credits district educators for the improved rate for English-learners, who make up 25 percent of the LAUSD’s total enrollment.

“Our principals and teachers are dedicated to the achievement of our English-learner students,” Maldonado said. “We are leveraging new technology-based tools to monitor students’ progress and providing personalized instruction that addresses their specific need, whether it’s in language or literacy. We are also more focused on implementing the new English Language Development standards, which are designed to provide students with skills to participate in extended academic conversations using the English language.”

LAUSD’S 17.2 percent reclassification rate is the third-highest among urban districts, and above the state average of 13.3 percent. The results do not include independent charters, for which the reclassification rate dropped from 15.5 percent in 2015-16 to 14.6 percent.

The California Department of Education also reported on April 26 that the number of long-term English-learners in the LAUSD – those who require six or more years of specialized English instruction – is 7.9 percent, compared with the statewide average of 9.4 percent. An analysis of the English-learner data shows that LAUSD’s middle schools had the largest increase in reclassification rates – from 12.9 percent in 2015-16 to 21.4 percent this year. Elementary schools increased from 11.3 to 17.2 percent, while the high school rate increased from 12.2 to 14 percent.

Maldonado noted that the California English Language Development Test will be replaced next year by the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California. The assessment will require English-learners to master academic English, which is embedded in the content, grammar and vocabulary of science, math and other subject areas.

For information, visit lausd.net.