Page 2: Self-Motivation and Parental Involvement Needed For Student Success

Photo: downey.dusd.net Warren High School students interact during science class.

Mrs. Casillas admits that there are parents like Santana’s who are supportive and call to see how their child is doing. However, the usual trend is far from that. “Overall, there is a handful in comparison,” she said. “The home life is not supportive of learning the English language.”

“Some of them don’t know that their child was in ELD,” Mrs. Casillas said. A lot of parents are also not involved with the schools to see what programs are being offered or even come out for English Language Advisory Committee meetings.

“We do a telephone message, we do personal phone calls, we do an invitation home,” Mrs. Casillas said. “We try to do whatever it is so we can to get optimum turnout.”

However, the highest number of people who have showed up have been 12 parents. There are currently 455 students enrolled in the ELD program at Warren.

“They hesitate …to get involved because they feel that school is the authority,” Mrs. Casillas said.

She also contributes self motivation as key for students to do well in school. Santana notices first hand the lack of effort from his peers.

“They don’t really care about learning that much,” he said. “They are not taking the class to learn.”

The ELD program offers services such as counseling and tutoring to help students. According to Mrs. Casillas, about 100 students utilize the services frequently.

“Those students tend to do a lot better,” she said.

However, there is still a long way to go. Aside from passing their classes, English learners must pass the California High School State Exit Exam. Students were required to pass the exam in order to receive a diploma starting last year.

“They do struggle with that, but we have some students who can pass.” Mrs. Casillas said. But the numbers show a different story.

Less than 30 percent of English learners passed both Math and English Language Arts portions of the exam last year in Downey Unified, according to the California Department of Education. About 35 percent passed the Math and 28 percent passed the English Language Arts in California Students, who are labeled Fluent English Proficient, fared a lot better district wide. About 83 and 90 percent passed the Math and English Language Arts portions, respectfully.

“My understanding is that it takes seven years to acquire any language,” Mrs. Casillas said. “They don’t have seven years.”

Regardless of the time, it is clear that students who put effort and get help from their parents come out successful.

Santana will graduate this spring in the top seven percent of his high school class. He plans to enroll at Cerritos Community College and then transfer to UCLA. Eventually, he wants to become a corporate lawyer.

“You actually come to a place where you know if you work…you can do something here (and) become a better person,” Santana said. “I love it here.”