Push Begins to Increase Number of Asian Teachers

In an effort to serve the needs of its burgeoning Asian student population, the Long Beach Unified School District is embarking on a major effort to increase the number of its bilingual Asian teachers.

Acting on the recommendations its Asian Education Advisory Committee, the school board this week asked its staff to prepare a written plan within two months that will, among other things, set specific time limits and numbers for the teachers’ recruitment.

The portion of the district’s student who are Asian--many of them Southeast Asian immigrants who speak little English--has risen from 2% to 20% in the last 20 years.