Navigating Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) requirements can be challenging for school districts and educational agencies. Staying current with evolving guidelines and ensuring compliance requires clear communication, especially with diverse communities. That’s where GOBO comes in.
Here at GOBO, we offer tools and services that distill LCAP information into clear, easy-to-understand infographics. We also offer translation services to help facilitate better communication with school stakeholders and staff, as well as English Language Learners (ELLs) and their parents.
Why the Need to Help English Language Learners (ELLs)
Effectively communicating with English Language Learners (ELLs) means addressing the needs of all students—not just those who are native English speakers. In the classroom, this includes English reading and writing development, but also verbal and written communication in a form the child can easily understand—their native language. In the case of parents and guardians, it means communicating important information to them about their children’s education and development in their native language.
California has the largest ELL student population in the US. In the 2022-2023 school year, there were more than 1 million English learners in California classrooms. Clearly, there is a need to support them by ensuring that their education and school experience isn’t hindered by a language barrier.
California State and Federal Requirements for ELL Student Communication
State laws regarding ELL students:*
The California Education Code law states: “Each pupil of limited English proficiency enrolled in the California public school system in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, shall receive instruction in a language understandable to the pupil that recognizes the pupil’s primary language and teaches the pupil English.”
And both the US Department of Education and the US Department of Justice issued recommendations to public school districts and education agencies that they must ensure “EL students can participate meaningfully and equally in educational programs.”
In addition, ALL state schools must follow federal laws, including (but not limited to):
Federal laws regarding ELL students:*
- Equal Education Opportunities Act of 1974 (EEOA) declares that “all children enrolled in public schools are entitled to equal educational opportunity without regard to race, color, sex, or national origin” and requires local and state educational agencies to take action to overcome language barriers that prevent equal participation by ELL students. The EEOA requires school districts to provide adequate language assistance services for ELLs and to ensure that ELL students can participate meaningfully and equally in educational programs.
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which “prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving financial assistance.”
- The 1974 Supreme Court case of “Lau v. Nichols” mandates that public schools today must provide non-English speaking students with instruction in the English language, while also providing additional support to ensure that they can meaningfully participate in class.
*Please note: This is not an exhaustive list, but a few examples of California state and federal laws regarding ELL students.
How This Affects Your LCAP
With such clear and enforceable laws and requirements regarding ELL students, your LCAP must address this initiative (in part) by providing more meaningful communication with ELL students and their parents. This involves ensuring written and oral translations of critical documents and offering free language assistance through staff or qualified external resources. Below are some key areas where translation and language support are essential to meet compliance and foster inclusivity:
- Registration and enrollment in schools and educational programs
- Language assistance programs
- Report cards
- Student discipline reports and policies
- Special education policies and procedures
- Special education and related services and meetings to discuss them
- Parent-teacher conferences
- Grievance procedures and notices of nondiscrimination
- Parent handbooks
- Gifted and talented programs
- Magnet and charter schools
- Requests for parent permission for student participation in school activities
How GOBO Can Help
GOBO owner Randy Putz has firsthand experience with the LCAP. About 10 years ago, while serving on his local California school board and reading its lengthy LCAP, he thought to himself, “There must be a better way to communicate vital information in a school district’s LCAP.” Thus, GOBO was born.
Along with providing easy-to-read infographics to school districts, with bite-sized information that distills complex LCAP and SPSA processes, GOBO also provides language translations of LCAP documents and infographics for stakeholders and school board staff, as well as student- and parent-facing communication in a variety of languages.
Let GOBO streamline your LCAP process and help you communicate more meaningfully to non-English speaking staff, students, and parents:
Call us at (888) 938-7779.
Email us at solutionsX@gobXoinfoX.com