Department of Justice announces agreement with Clay County to protect civil rights of English learners

A Northeast Florida school district is receiving guidance from the Department of Justice on the protection of students whose first language is not English.

The Department of Justice determined that Clay County It failed to provide English learners with instruction that would lead them to fluency, failed to provide non-English speaking parents with information in their native language, and failed to help students learn core content while providing no academic or behavioral support.

“Students learning English have the right to participate in courses alongside their peers, and schools must take steps to make that right a reality,” the Assistant Attorney General said. Kristen Clarke from the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division“This agreement will help ensure that English learners in Clay County receive the tools they need to succeed and thrive in the classroom.”

“School districts must provide English language learners with appropriate services to overcome language barriers,” the U.S. Attorney said. Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “We are pleased that the Clay County School District has agreed to meet its obligation to meet the language needs of its English learners so that they can learn English and fully participate in the district’s educational experience. Equal access to educational opportunities is at the core of our youth’s civil rights protections, and students have a right to equal access despite any language barriers they may have.”

The district pointed to graduation rates and English proficiency levels for English learners as rising in recent years as a defense, but the Justice Department said flaws in data collection made it impossible to say how much those gains meant.

Clay will have to develop a program for English learners, train ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) teachers, provide English language instruction to increase proficiency, and use an interpreter or translators when dealing with parents who do not speak English fluently.

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