AZ Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Network
ADVOCACY TIMELINE OF CURRENT EVENTS - ENGLISH LEARNERS IN DLI
04/04/24: Lawsuit #2 comes from a parent that Superintendent Horne has recruited. She is being represented by Tom Horne's wife who is an attorney. Here's the story.
03/08/24: An AZ judge has dismissed the lawsuit! 😀 Here's the Motion to Dismiss Ruling
1/11/24: The hearing to dismiss the lawsuit have started. No decision has been reached. Here's the latest new story on this.
12/19/23: Here is an article that explains the lawsuit clearly. Horne says that looking at this issue "is not science-based" - he is only going off of the original wording of the Prop 203 initiative. Article: Horne Presses Lawsuit Against Mesa Public Schools, 9 Others from The Mesa Tribute.
11/16/23: Join us in a new petition to encourage Superintendent Horne to drop the lawsuit against 10 school districts, the govenor and the AG's office for supporting English Learners in dual language immersion programs. Stand for Children has a link for you to share this request: #Dropthesuit petition https://act.stand.org/a/demand-tom-horne-dropthesuit
The models approved by SBOE do not violate the citizens’ initiative upon which Horne bases his claims. Motions to Dismiss:
9/20/23: The AZ Capitol Times published the Yellow Report that shared some of the ideas behind the budget increase that Superintendent Horne is requesting $1.2 million additional to hire 12 Full-time employees to train educators on "effective models for English Learners" and to focus on schools that are (in his opinion) out of compliance becaue they are allowing ELs to participate in the DLI choice model.
9/13/23: Superintendent Horne amended the complaint (HERE) and named more districts. Districts were also notified that they could continue their programs for this school year.
9/7/23: AZ Daily Star: Horne has filed a complaint against the AG, the governor and Creighton School District.
9/6/23: NPR story where Horne confirms that he is preparing a lawsuit (we are not sure who will be sued) due to Attorney General's statement saying that English Learners are allowed in DLI programs as per the 2019 legislation that amended Prop 203. Start listening at 44 seconds into recording.
9/5/23: AZ Central Story: Stating that Horne has reduced the criteria for reclassification of English Learners:
"Previously, English learners had to score proficient on listening, reading, writing and speaking portions of the AZELLA and receive a total of 1,000 points or higher on the overall test.
Under the new standards, English learners still have score a total of 1,000 points or higher on the overall test. But they only have to score intermediate or proficient on the four portions of the test, instead of proficient on all four, Ahumada said.
"So now we were more focused on the number of points that they have and not the label," Ahumada said. "We're allowing students who are categorized as intermediate but have the total points, which we haven't changed" to be reclassified from English learners in to mainstream classes." Author: Daniel Gonzalez
8/26/23: AZ State Board of Education Meeting: Thanks to all speakers, from in-state and out-of-state, parents, researchers, professors! If you are interested in sharing your support for English Learners accessing the educational model that best serves them and our DLI programs, reach out to cristinaladas@me.com and I'll get you set up. In-person or virtual options. Click here to see their testimonies starting around timestamp 11:30.
8/14/23: The latest article (subscription to AZ Central required) but in a nutshell, Kevin Ray, a section chief counsel in the Attorney General's Office reiterates the AG's opinion of ELs in DLI programs not needing waivers to participate due to SB1014 from 2020 and Superintendent Horne pushing back saying that Prop 203 has language that still stands and needs to be followed.
8/3/23: The AZ Attorney General sent out a letter to all County Attorneys saying that no teacher or administrator could be held personally liable for following the AZ State Board of Education approved 50-50 DLI Model.
8/2/23: Governor Hobbs visits two dual language immersion schools in Phoenix. Here's the story!
7/17/23: English Learners can participate in the 50-50 DLI Model Without waivers (as per the attorney general and az state board of education)
Early-mid July summary: AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes shared her opinion on this matter, outlining the authority of the State Superintendent of Schools. She says that Superintendent Horne cannot remove or modify the 50-50 DLI model as a Structured English Immersion model for English Learners (this includes the waivers that Superintendent Horne was attempting to require). Also important to note that while Superintendent Horne/AZ Department of Education can put a school/district into non-compliance, it's up to the AZ State Board of Education to decide if funding will be withheld. However, the AG did not give an opinion on whether the 50-50 DLI model is in violation of Prop 203 and explained why. This could become an issue down the road so stay tuned but for now, our 2023-24 school year will continue as originally planned.
The AZ State Board of Education has also agreed in their response.
We are still waiting for the AZ Department of Education to acknowledge this on their website (7/27/23). So far, these are the only published documents:
SEI Model mplementation Guide 2023-24 - published July 1, 2023
Waiver Guidance - published June 20, 2023
TAKE ACTION - History JuNE/July 2023
PAST ACTION ITEMS
Watch the June 26, 2023 AZ State Board of Education where public comments from a diverse population (parents, principals, school administrators, university professors, consultants, etc) were in support of Dual Language Immersion education for English Learners. While the Board couldn't respond at that meeting, our voices were loud and clear.
PAST ACTION ITEM
Sign a petition started by Stand for the Children supporting Dual Language Immersion as an option/choice model for English Learners and asking the AZ State Board of Education for an emergency July meeting to discuss DLI. This petition has 2,200 signatures already (as of 7/7/23).
Attend the community event on July 13th. Contact gmonsalvo@stand.org for details.
Our local events at the AZ DLI Network have been sponsored by...
