BOSTON — According to a report from Latinos for Education, Latinx people make up more than 12 percent of Massachusett’s population, but account for more 30 percent of all COVID-19 cases.
That dynamic makes school re-entry plans for English language learners even more complicated, as families report lack of access to technology, food and housing insecurity, and staffing shortages.
Ruth Chicas is a mom of 2 ELL students in Boston Public Schools. She says they both struggled with virtual learning last year and her oldest has dyslexia. She told Boston 25 News they needed extra help that she simply can’t give them at home.
Ecuadorian refugee, Stephany Escobar and her family of five live in an apartment in Chelsea. She told Boston 25 news, when she lost her job in the COVID-19 crisis, she not only struggled to feed her family, she had to figure out virtual learning...in another language.
“Knowing that the teachers don’t speak our language has been the biggest barrier between my children and school,” Escobar explained with the help of a translator.
English language learners make up nearly 40 percent of all students in Chelsea public schools, which is higher than larger districts like Boston at 31 percent, and Lawrence at 34 percent.
Chelsea has also seen the highest rate of COVID-19 infections in the state and 80 percent of residents are essential workers, raising their exposure risk.
Chelsea's school superintendent Dr. Almi Abeyta has recommended an all-remote start. She says the district purchased supplemental online programs through the Carnegie Corporation and handed out roughly 200 WiFi hotspots and more than 1200 Chromebooks.
But, in its initial fall reopening guidance, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or DESE recommended full-time, in-person learning for high needs students including “...English learners who are most in need of in-person services”. Districts are encouraged to apply for grant funding to pay for support programs.
Jessica Gold Boots is the ELL teacher leader at Malden High School and a state coach for the National Education Association. She believes a lack of state guidance, cuts to staffing including counselors, and what she calls “unfunded mandates” from the state are leaving English language learners behind. “What I’m also hearing is just a lack of feeling empowered to advocate if there is an issue. And this is an issue of language accessibility as well,” said Gold Boots.
In Boston, the district has an ELL specific Google Classroom for resources to assist with an all-remote start to the year with a transition later to a hybrid model for high needs students. Districts like Lawrence, and Brockton have similar plans. Parents we spoke with say they remain cautiously optimistic for their kids.
Boston 25 News reached out DESE, but the organization declined to speak with us for this report.
Download the free Boston 25 News app for up-to-the-minute push alerts
>> Complete local and national coronavirus coverage here
RESOURCES:
- Massachusetts Coronavirus Information
- Boston Coronavirus Information
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Watch Boston 25 NOW
