June 20, 2005
The Honorable Jack Scott
Chair, Senate Committee on Education
California State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
VIA FACSIMILE: 916.324.7543
RE: AB 680 (Chan) – SUPPORT
Dear Senator Scott:
On behalf of the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), I am writing to express strong support for AB 680, which would enhance opportunities for limited-English proficient (LEP) parents to participate meaningfully in their children's education. This bill would strengthen compliance with Education Code § 48985, which requires school sites to translate notices and materials for parents into the primary languages of substantial English Learner populations.
APIAHF is a national policy advocacy organization with the mission of bringing the highest level of health and well-being to AAPIs. Founded in 1986, the organization approaches activities with the philosophy of coalition-building and partnership, capacity building, providing technical assistance and training, developing leadership and disseminating information.
In California, one in four children – or nearly 1.6 million students – in the K-12 educational system is an English Learner (EL). Virtually all of these children come from homes where English is not the primary language. Without adequate translated materials and notices, limited-English proficient (LEP) parents are precluded from communicating with educators and locked out of their children's education – leaving their children to struggle in school by themselves.
Under Education Code § 48985, school sites are required to translate notices, reports, statements, and records when at least 15 percent of the student population at a given school speak a common primary language other than English. The lack of any mechanism to monitor and enforce school's compliance with this provision, however, has resulted in haphazard and inconsistent translations across districts.
AB 680 would require school districts to annually provide CDE with information on the language demographics and translation practices of school sites that meet the 15 percent threshold for translating documents. This bill would also establish a competitive grants process and allocate federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) funds for school districts to comply with the law.
Early and sustained parental involvement in children's education is the key for children to attain high levels of academic achievement and to succeed throughout their lives. Parents, teachers, students, and local communities benefit when schools welcome and encourage parents to join them as equal partners in their children's education. I urge you to support AB 680. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Ho Luong Tran, M.D., MPH
President and CEO
Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum
