SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today released the first annual results of the Title III Accountability Reports for the school year 2003-04 that show a majority of California education agencies are meeting their targets to teach the English language to English learners.

This is the first time California has set state targets for CELDT. The reports are a requirement of a new provision within Title III of the federal No Child Left Behind law that provides supplemental funding for local educational agencies to implement programs to help English learners and immigrant students learn English and meet the state's academic standards.

 "I am very pleased with the initial results that show English learners are making progress in learning the language and in meeting state targets in English-language arts and mathematics," said O'Connell. "This continues to show our efforts to increase high expectations of students and accountability of schools are resulting in improving student achievement."

In California, the new accountability provisions affect 1.6 million English learners within 839 local education agencies that receive Title III funds, including school districts, county offices of education, and direct-funded charter schools. In the 2003-04 school year, the state and local education agencies have collectively received $140.3 million in Title III funds.

The reports gauge three annual measurable achievement objectives (AMAOs) for local education agencies that receive Title III funds. Federal law does not require reporting on the school level:

1. The first AMAO measures the percentage of students making annual progress in learning English as assessed through the California English Language Development Test (CELDT). Eighty-seven percent of the Title III local education agencies met this target.
2. The second AMAO measures the percentage of students reaching English proficiency as assessed through CELDT. Eighty-five percent of the Title III local education agencies met this target.
3. The third AMAO measures the percentage of students meeting Adequate Yearly Progress requirements for the English learner subgroup in English-language arts and mathematics, as assessed through three state tests. Those tests include the California Standards Test, California Alternate Performance Assessment, and the California High School Exit Examination. Eighty-three percent of the Title III local education agencies met this target.

Overall, 81 percent of the Title III local education agencies met both the first and second AMAOs. However, 19 percent failed to do so, meaning they need to examine and improve their programs to teach English learners the language. Also, 71 percent of Title III local education agencies met all three AMAOs. However, 29 percent failed to meet one or more of them, meaning they must determine if their English learners need assistance in the subject areas or in learning English, and work to provide the necessary improvements in programs for English learners.

The Title III Accountability Reports will provide a consistent way for school districts across the state to examine their CELDT results and determine if they need to make improvements. The Title III accountability system provides yearly targets for English learners and holds local education agencies accountable for teaching students and measuring their progress in learning the English-language skills they need to succeed in the subject areas. For more information on the Title III Accountability Reports, please visit Title III - English Learners.