Tukwila School District receives grant to help English Language Learner (ELL) students

The Tukwila School District is part of a consortium of school districts in South King County that has received a $460,000 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to help improve the career and college readiness of ELL students. The program will focus on offering high school credit to ELL and other students who come from homes in which languages other than English are spoken. High school credits will be granted to students who can demonstrate proficiency in a world language other than English by taking a proficiency test. Up to 4 credits may be earned. One credit is equivalent to taking one course for a full school year. The first test has been administered to 32 Foster High School students. All 32 students received at least one credit and 12 students received the maximum four credits. Congratulations to the students and the staff at Foster who helped implement this excellent program.

ELL students make up 38% of students in Tukwila and more than 60% of the students come from homes where English is not the primary language. This program is important not only because of the credits, but also because it also sends the message that being proficient in more than one language is an important skill to enhance the future success of students.

More details are available here:

http://www.k12.wa.us/Communications/PressReleases2013/ELL-Grant.aspx

Dave Larson
Tukwila School Board