Schools

Feds, Stamford Schools Reach Settlement Over Civil Rights Violation

The agreement came about after the district's English Language Learner program was found to be non-compliant with the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974.

Judicial proceedings against Stamford Public Schools are being averted under a settlement agreement the Connecticut school district reached Friday with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut. 

The 29-page agreement spells out in detail the steps the city must take to bring the district's English Language Learner (ELL) program into compliance with the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974. 

“Today, the Stamford Public Schools undertook a significant step toward ensuring the success of every student from the beginning of his or her school career in the district,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Jocelyn Samuels. 

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There are more than 2,000 ELL students enrolled in the district's 20 public schools, according to the agreement, which has been embedded with this article.

“Faithful implementation of this settlement agreement will ensure that ELL students, like all district students, have access to qualified teachers, instruction designed to impart the necessary English language skills, and dedicated resources to meet ELL students’ particular learning needs," Samuels added. "We applaud the school district for working collaboratively with the United States to develop the comprehensive plan reflected in this agreement.” 

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According to a press release from Department of Justice, the agreement requires the district to implement wide-ranging measures to ensure that ELL students have equal opportunities to succeed academically in its educational programs, beginning with the proper identification and placement of ELL students when they enroll in the system.  

Among other requirements, the agreement requires the district to: 

  • provide language acquisition services to all ELL students until they reach the state’s English proficiency criteria
  • ensure that teachers of ELL students are qualified to provide these services 
  • obtain adequate materials for ELL students
  • monitor students after they exit ELL services to ensure they are participating meaningfully and equally in general education classes
  • make appropriate language services available for ELL students with disabilities 

“By entering into this agreement, the Stamford public school system has reaffirmed its mission to provide all of our children with the equal opportunity to become productive citizens, regardless of their proficiency in English," said U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly for the District of Connecticut.

"This settlement agreement creates a roadmap for all Connecticut schools that provides a comprehensive plan to effectively serve all students who are not yet proficient in English. We thank Stamford for working with the Justice Department to achieve this positive and hopeful result."


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