You are here: Ask Judie › Newcomer retention at the high school level?

What are some policies for newcomer high schoolers out there? Say a 16, 17 year old who comes with no or little English? They probably have some transferable credits towards high school graduation from their home country, but must take some classes required by their new high school (not English classes) for graduation, say Algebra 2 or biology. How much can we fairly “help” them so they pass those classes? There are non ELL students who have to repeat classes too and graduate late. Is it “fair” to pass them just barely learning the main concepts? Or letting them have coaching on tests related to content and not just language? Will the decision be made on whether they go on to college and have to pay for everything, or if they just start working? I just read the 2009 postings on “Grade retention for ELLs” and Irma’s post was very thought provoking. She (a Hispanic immigrant herself) said if they have to retake a grade (or class) that it can sharpen their study habits and determination. Yet, everyone else who posted was against retention. It seems also by what I read that it depends on student achievement and readiness to move on to the material for the next grade. Those posts seemed to be about elementary students, and I’d like to get input/discussion about repeating high school classes. One thought is to get the students’ families involved too. What are

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Re: Newcomer retention at the high school level?

by Katy on Feb 27 2010 11:17 AM

PS. As a former Special education ED/LD aide, sometimes I have a hard time separating ELL accommodation strategies from Sped accommodation strategies.

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