Teachers Fail Fluency Test, Lose Jobs, Sue
The Massachusetts move shutting down the bilingual programs in the public schools, is impacting teachers as well as students. In some immigrant-heavy cities (like Lawrence) more than half of the kids in public school are non-native speakers. Over the years, these districts have hired dozens of teachers to work with kids in their native languages. Now all of these teachers have to prove their fluency or get fired. Showing their true Americanism more than on any fluency test, they decided to sue.
“Seventeen Lawrence teachers who failed an English fluency test required by the state’s new English immersion law have hired a lawyer to challenge the rule and persuade the district that they should keep their jobs.
The state Department of Education issued rules in March requiring that teachers who do not meet the ”fluent and literate” standard must prove their English-speaking ability on an oral test and providing that those who fail will face being fired.
In Somerville, all five teachers who took the test failed and are receiving tutoring to help them improve their speaking ability. In Lowell, 22 of 25 teachers failed, and school officials provided them with information about private tutoring programs.”