District Boosts Bilingual Skills
In response to a state recommendation that the district hire more bilingual teachers and improve services for students whose English proficiency is limited, the Capistrano Unified School District plans to spend $100,000 to provide additional training for non-bilingual teachers.
The state Coordinated Compliance Team, which reviewed the district during the 1989-90 school year, found no fault with its bilingual programs. But it did say the district needs more qualified teachers to keep up with its burgeoning immigrant population.
The total of non-English-speaking students in the district has grown by 5% in the past two years, Assistant Supt. William Eller said. The district has about 2,500 such students, 10% of the total district population, Eller said.
Last year, the district was able to recruit only six new teachers with bilingual credentials, and still needs 18 more to meet its needs.
District officials plan to train non-bilingual teachers until more bilingual teachers can be hired.
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