Most don't speak English as their native language. Oklahoma City has more than 8,000 students designated as LEP, a number that has more than doubled in the last six years. Last year, the district tested nearly 7,000 students in grades five, eight and 11 and exempted about 500 under the language provision. The problem is more focused at Columbus where Jones has been principal for 13 years. Most teachers, unable to speak Spanish, must muddle through communicating with their students.
Teachers feel both helpless and frustrated.
My concern is for those students who haven't even been here two years. My teachers have tried to prepare the students as much as possible, but the language development is just slow. Ofelia Flores, Nayley's teacher, understands the concern. For now, she's grateful the state will separate the scores so neither the students, teachers nor schools will be punished for poor performance. But by next year, that could change.