A Call to the MSDE Workgroup on ELLs for Transparency, Input, and Access

A Letter from the Community Workgroup on English Language Learners

Blueprint Workgroup on English Language Learners in Public Schools

December 17, 2021

Nancy S. Grasmick State Education Building

200 West Baltimore St.

Baltimore, MD 21201–2595

Attention: Superintendent Mohammed Choudhury, Sen. Cheryl Kagan, Del. Alonzo Washington

CC: Susan Spinnato, Chair Paul Pinsky, Chair Vanessa Atterbeary, Workgroup members

Members of the Blueprint Workgroup on ELLs in Public Schools,

The Community Workgroup on English Language Learners is a group of individuals and organizations passionate about public education that has been working for decades to ensure that students from immigrant families are provided comprehensive and effective programs, services, and resources needed to be successful in college and careers beyond. Many of us contributed expertise and experiential knowledge as the “Kirwan” Commission developed its policy recommendations, and we worked with the legislature to amend and move the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (“Blueprint”) to passage. We are excited about the new opportunities that we anticipate will be available as the Blueprint funding is incrementally phased in over the next 10 years. We are also supportive of your work to highlight dual language programs, and the expansion of these programs throughout the state.

We are writing to request a copy of the Blueprint Workgroup on ELL’s Interim Report, which was to be submitted to the Governor and General Assembly on or before December 1, 2021. Our requests to Superintendent Choudhury and other staff at MSDE have gone unanswered. Also, the Governor’s office and certain Assembly members reported that it was not received.

We are also requesting that the Blueprint Workgroup on ELLs (“Workgroup”) expand its practice to ensure transparency, inclusion, and collaboration with impacted individuals and families, ELL teachers and school staff, community advocates and policy experts beyond MSDE’s chosen appointees. When the Workgroup first started in August, many of us did not know that these meetings were happening. There was little communication, if any, about the Workgroup meeting dates or how the public could access the meetings. In response to actions taken by several of our partners, the Workgroup decided to stream and record meetings, and to passively provide the public with materials and information. We appreciate your efforts to bring more transparency to your work, however, we want to make sure that the Workgroup takes more proactive measures to engage the community — especially impacted individuals and families — to ensure your recommendations are inclusive and comprehensive for the ELL population in Maryland public schools.

For the upcoming year, we ask the Workgroup to: (1) allocate at least 15 minutes at each meeting for public comment; (2) publicize meetings and activities broadly through connecting with community and government partners, and through email lists, social media, and other ways; (3) invite ELL advocates and ESOL students and families beyond appointees to present; and (4) hold quarterly statewide public town hall meetings in various geographical areas to report on the progress of your work, and to take input from the community.

We are looking forward to hearing your responses to our requests. Please contact Owen Silverman Andrews at owen.s.andrews@gmail.com or Frank Patinella at patinella@aclu-md.org. We look forward to collaborating with you as we all continue to work to improve the lives and education experience of all immigrant students, families, and communities in Maryland. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Alicia Amaral Freeman, Vice-President, Latino Providers Network

Natalia Bacchus, Baltimore Teachers Union

Susana Barrios y Rocio Masset, Bridging Maryland / Puente Maryland

Kathleen Callaghan, Baltimore City Schools ESOL teacher

Dr. Donna Christy, Prince George’s County Educators’ Association

Shamoyia Gardiner, Strong Schools Maryland

Lucia Islas, Comité Latino de Baltimore

Carlos Lam Jr., Asociación Guatamaltecos Sin Fronteras

Dr. Gabriela D. Lemus, Maryland Latinos Unidos

Dinorah Olmos, Latino Education Advancement Fund

Frank Patinella, ACLU of Maryland

Edwin A. Pérez, Baltimore County School Teacher and SOMOS member

Kimberley Reece, Prince George’s County Public Schools Middle School ESOL Teacher

Samreen Sheraz, SOMOS

Owen Silverman Andrews, Anne Arundel Community College ELL instructional specialist

Eva Sumano, CASA