SUCCESS FOR ENGLISH-LEARNERS HIGHER TEST SCORES SEEN FOR SCHOOLS THAT DEVOTE RESOURCES.

Byline: NAUSH BOGHOSSIAN

Staff Writer

Schools that focus resources on their English-language learners average higher scores on academic achievement tests, a study released Friday says.

The study by EdSource was designed to provide direction about the strategies that help improve performance among students whose primary language is not English.

Researchers said four practices resulted in higher student performance: hiring good teachers; teaching a curriculum aligned with state standards; closely analyzing assessment data; and setting measurable goals for improving achievement.

"On the surface, these four broad practices seem pretty basic," said Trish Williams, executive director of EdSource, the 30-year-old nonprofit group that conducted the study.

"But in practice it takes a great deal of sustained, intense focus at the school, a great deal of leadership from the district office and school principal, and a willingness to all work together at the school to stay with the implementation of all four of these practices over time."

The study is based on the release last year of API scores for English-language learners. Researchers analyzed the scores against a set of survey responses from 4,700 teachers and 237 principals in 137 school districts.

Among the 237 schools sampled, Williams said, those in the Los Angeles Unified School District had some of the highest scores. However, EdSource did not identify which LAUSD schools were surveyed or how many were included in the study.

According to the 2006 release of Academic Performance Index scores, English-language learners in Los Angeles Unified averaged 611 out of a possible 1,000 points, compared with 649 for all students.

Ronnie Ephraim, LAUSD's chief instructional officer, said the scores show the district is using its resources effectively.

Teachers collaborate and analyze tests and other assessment data to ensure they're on the right track, she said. In addition, the district spent $19 million more this year than the state allocated on textbooks and other classroom materials.

In addition, the district uses the highly scripted Open Court curriculum, which is closely aligned with state standards, she said.

The only practice in the study that district officials feel they need to improve is setting measurable goals for student achievement, Ephraim said.

"One of my guiding principles is to use data and analysis to drive decisions and use measurable goals to drive instruction," LAUSD Superintendent David Brewer III said. "We have to have standards and teachers teaching to the standards and establish measurable goals for them to achieve."

There are about 1.6 million English-language learners in California public schools, officials said. About 290,000 -- or 41 percent -- of Los Angeles Unified's 708,000 students are in this group.

naush.boghossian(at)dailynews.com

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