District gets ESL grant

Children from 32 countries are in these schools and the state has decided to give more money for their education. I hope all states can and will do the same. We want these future taxpayers to have a good and complete education. DP

BY VALERIE MYERS

A new grant will help the Erie School District teach English to children from other countries.

The $175,000 grant from the state Department of Education will cover about one-tenth of what Erie will spend to teach English to more than 800 students this year. The total cost of the English as a Second Language program cost will be $1.7 million, schools Superintendent James Barker said.

"It's the classic example of a mandate without money, and the taxpayer winds up paying the entire bill," Barker said. "This grant helps, but there needs to be a state funding formula that considers the number of students learning English in each district."

In 1992, Erie had about 100 students whose native language was not English, Barker said.

This year, for the first time, there are more than 800.

The primary language of many of those students is Spanish. A number of others speak eastern European languages, including Russian.

"It's a very diverse group," Barker said. "We have students from 32 countries speaking 26 languages."

Twenty-six teachers, at least one in every Erie school, teach English to immigrant and refugee students. Six classroom aides, classroom assistants and a parent-school liaison also work in the program, Barker said.

Because of the program's size, an administrator may soon be needed to oversee it, Barker said. That administrator would work with teachers, staff and agencies that support immigrant families, including the International Institute, the Hispanic American Council and Catholic Charities.

The school district has also considered operating a separate school for students who do not speak English.

The $175,000 department of education grant is new, Barker said. The district hopes to qualify for more money in coming years.

"It's a beginning of a recognition of districts like Erie that are places where the world literally wants to come because of our services," Barker said. "We're hoping that state money continues to come to Erie, too."