Utah schools serve 51,249 (USOE Data Report, January 2014) K-12 English learners representing 134 languages. In my service learning placement, I have had the opportunity to work in the dual immersion classes. Because of Lau vs. Nichols, school districts receiving federal funds must help minority students. Allowing students with little or no English speaking ability to sink or swim is a violation of their civil rights.
In my placement school, I see a tremendous support for the ESL students. For example, they take great measures to not only embrace their native language but to celebrate their culture. For the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead, the students dressed up and they had a program where they invited all the parents as well as the student body and sang songs both in English and Spanish as well as showing a short video about the holiday. The kids loved it. Through various assessments, they have a plan for each child. Sometimes, this will involve an aid coming in and helping them with their math or reading. They have peers who are older students that come in once a week and read with them. The dual immersion teacher, lets the students work collaboratively which increases interaction and communication.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ensures services to children with disabilities. With Mia, who is a blind student that I am working with, this has been invaluable. The state has provided her with a Braille computer and typewriter. All of her lessons are exactly the same as the other students and her teacher turns them in a week earlier so that they can be brailled and she can do the lesson right along with her class. She is in her regular classroom 90 percent of the day and participates in everything that her peers do.
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