Mississippi’s public schools have had to increase their support for English Language Learners, students who are not fluent in English. According to an internal document from state education department, the number of non-English-speaking students in Mississippi has increased by 47 percent over 2013. This is a difference of 7,739 to 11,404. This means that more schools districts are seeking ways to support the majority of these students who speak Spanish, which has led to an increase in their number. The state education department established a position earlier this year to oversee school support. The majority of English learners speak Spanish. However, there are many other languages represented in the state, including Chinese, Arabic and Mandarin. Heather Maness is a Biology I teacher in Forest High School. Her school recently received an influx of unaccompanied Central American minors, many of them speaking native languages. She said that these children speak very little English and often drop out of school in 2nd grade. They later come to America to work. Maness stated that they must enroll in school because of the law. She said that they often get placed in the 9th grade because of their age. Maness stated that it is a struggle to teach eight of these children. There is one ESL tutor who works with all students of English Language Learner in high school. There is also an increase in students hailing from cultures that are not commonly represented in schools throughout the state. DeSoto County School district, for instance, saw an almost double in Arabic-speaking students between 2013 and 2015. Madison County School District saw a rise in the number of Arabic-speaking students from 28 to 65 over the same period. We have a growing economy. This combination, together with strong public schools, I-69 and aggressive industrial development, has spurred economic growth in DeSoto County,” DeSoto County Schools District spokeswoman Katherine Nelson stated. Nelson stated that 26 languages are spoken in the entire district. Monique Henderson, an English Learner Specialist in the department, is a Meridian native. She said that she has heard of students from Yemen moving to certain parts of the state. Henderson said, “One thing that we do is provide professional training and spend a bit of time talking to teachers about the culture and helping them build their comfort level working in different cultures.” “We spoke specifically about Arabic culture and sometimes we get calls from people asking about the appropriate way to work with Arabic students,” Henderson said. According to data from National Center for Education Statistics, the number of English language learners in public schools nationwide increased from 49.3 millions in 2009 to 50.1million in 2014. These students most often report their native languages as Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese. Since January, Henderson has been with the department. Her main job is to train teachers and administrators in teaching English learners. She also works with universities and colleges to spread the message that the state requires more teachers who are qualified to teach English learners. She said that it’s often called “Do you want to learn English abroad?” “A lot of our people in Mississippi are getting teaching credentials. Their heart and life is here…. We’re trying (colleges, universities) to change this framing.” Henderson stated that the special credential does not increase teachers’ salaries, but it does make them more marketable for good jobs. Henderson noted that Mississippi teachers are familiar with working with children with weak grammar and vocabulary. Jackie Ward, the Leake County English Learner Coordinator, has been working in the district since 1999. She said that the district’s English Learner population grew from 17 to 250 in her first year.
Mayra Sanchez is a 2015 graduate of Leake Central High School and was recently admitted to paramedic school. She hopes to one day go to medical school. When she was six years of age, she moved to Carthage with her parents who worked in the poultry plant. Sanchez, who was later valedictorian, failed in the first grade and had to go to summer school. Sanchez was in the English Language Learner Program until she reached the third grade, when she was accepted into the gifted program. She was still monitored until graduation. However, she said that she does not believe that schools are equipped to handle the influx of English-speaking students. There aren’t many teachers who speak Spanish, and classrooms can hold up to 22 students. One student may get behind, especially if they don’t speak English. They won’t raise their hand and say “Hey, I need to help.” She said. Heather Maness, Forest High’s teacher, expressed concern to panelists of education and legislators about the effects on ratings for the school. Maness stated that because they are in algebra, biology, English I, and English II at the same time, their state-tested subjects… I would not be able pass a Spanish or their dialect test if I had to go into their school and take it. It’s a struggle, and it also affects our dropout rate. Many people come to America with the intention of working in the U.S., but once they reach 18 they stop coming back. Schools and districts are graded on the basis of student achievement, participation rates, graduation rates, test-score growth and student achievement. Brenda Barron, 19 years old, moved to Carthage with her family from Jalisco (Mexico) when she was in 6th grade. Although she knew very little English, she said Ward’s help was vital. She did not take the test to graduate from the program. “A friend of mine knew Ms. Jackie Ward, and she helped me tremendously when they placed me in school. Barron described how she shared a classroom with all Hispanic students in junior high. Barron stated that she received lots of assistance from Ward and two other Spanish-speaking students in the same grade as her. Barron stated that she received a great grade when she first entered high school. However, her English grade dropped two months later. She spoke to Barron and asked her to help her. The English teacher began giving her homework and it was very helpful. Barron, who is still living in Carthage said that she is currently looking for work to help her save for college. Ronnie McGehee, Madison County School District Superintendent, said that his district has seen an increase in English Language Learner teachers from 6 to 11 over the past three years. He is also considering offering stipends for teachers who speak another language. McGehee stated that the English Language Learner student population seems to be increasing on a regular basis. He also noted that the Hispanic, Asian and Latino populations are the fastest-growing in the district. To support this important work, you can make a regular donation to the Spring Member Drive today. Our reporters give a human face to policy’s impact on everyday Mississippians by listening more closely and understanding their communities. To ensure that our work is aligned with the priorities and needs of all Mississippians, we are listening to you. Click the button below to let us know what you think.