Attorney General Secures Agreements With East End School Districts

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced recently that agreements with seven school districts in Suffolk and Westchester Counties to expand educational access for limited English proficient students (“English language learners” or “ELLs”).

The Riverhead Central School District, Greenport, East Hampton, and Hampton Bays Union Free School Districts were all among those that agreed to develop and implement new policies and procedures concerning ELLs and their families, beginning with those families’ first interactions with school districts and continuing through those students’ educational careers.

These districts have also agreed to implement new training protocols for their staff and personnel.

“Our schools must provide students with the tools and resources to succeed regardless of English proficiency or where they came from,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “My office is proud to work collaboratively with school districts to ensure that language barriers will not stand in the way of students obtaining a quality education, and that students and their families understand the services that are available to them.”

According to Census data, approximately two and a half million New Yorkers do not speak English as their primary language and have a limited ability to read, speak, write or understand English.

Over 17% of Suffolk County residents speak a language other than English; over 8% speak Spanish; and over 6% speak English less than “very well.”

The evolving demographics of student populations in New York State have caused many ELLs to face language barriers in accessing school services, including not receiving timely screenings or appropriate English-language development services.

In February 2014, in response to information received from parents and advocates concerning Suffolk County schools, the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau opened an inquiry to examine districts’ language access policies and procedures.

These districts all serve significant ELL populations, ranging anywhere from 12 to 16% of their student bodies.

Following the Attorney General’s review of the districts’ existing policies and procedures, the six districts agreed to expand language access for students and parents through the adoption of model Language Access and Enrollment Procedures for use within the districts.

The agreements secured by the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau will ensure that districts meet the needs of students and parents, regardless of language ability by requiring the following:

• Students are properly screened for language ability when entering the districts;
• Parental notifications are provided in the family’s native language on a host of subjects, including student placement in a bilingual/ESL program or evaluation for special education services, or a district’s intent to discipline a student;
• Parents are offered interpreting services at various school functions, including district orientations on bilingual/ESL programs and Committee on Special Education meetings;
• Districts have translated materials available on their websites, as well as clear designations of district Language Access Coordinators along with contact information for those Coordinators;
• ELLs and their families do not face enrollment barriers in the form of document requirements beyond those set forth by the New York State Education Department;
• District personnel are trained on the Language Access and Enrollment Procedures; and
• Periodic reports to the Attorney General regarding the districts’ provision of services to ELLs and their families.

The Attorney General’s language access agreements are part of the office’s ongoing work to promote greater access to educational opportunity for students across New York State.

In addition to addressing language barriers faced by students and their parents, the office is also working to address the school to prison pipeline; working to lift enrollment and registration barriers faced by unaccompanied minors and undocumented youth; working to ensure compliance with the anti-bullying mandate of the Dignity for All Students Act; and working to eradicate admissions barriers imposed by colleges and universities based on applicants’ contacts with the criminal justice system.

“Ensuring that students have access to all educational resources is paramount to their academic success and our success as a region,” said County Executive Steve Bellone. “On November 14, 2012, I signed Executive Order 10-2012 directing county agencies and departments to provide language assistance services (translation and interpretation) to people of Limited English Proficiency (LEP). Each agency provides interpretation services between the agency and an individual in his or her primary language.”

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