Legacy Traditional Schools (LTS), a charter network compromising 22 schools in Arizona, has committed to amending certain practices to conform with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This comes after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which uncovered multiple violations regarding language assistance for students and parents with limited English proficiency (LEP). In response, LTS has entered into a resolution agreement that pledges to recognize the English learner (EL) students promptly and to effectively communicate with their parents regarding educational programs and services available to them.
According to revelations from the OCR, detailed in a report by ABC15, LTS did not timely identify EL students nor did they provide sufficient notification to their parents about EL status or the option to partake in or refrain from LTS' English Language Development (ELD) program. Furthermore, there were deficiencies in both the provision of ELD services and the monitoring of EL students' academic progress, which stifled their ability to meaningfully partake in LTS’ standard instructional offerings.
To address these shortfalls, the resolution agreement, as outlined on the OCR website, includes measures such as training teachers to deliver integrated ELD instruction, ensuring that ELD instructional materials are on par with those provided to non-EL students, and monitoring the academic progress of current and former EL students. Also, when necessary, LTS must offer free and qualified translation or interpretation services to parents with LEP, to ensure equal access to vital information such as enrollment procedures.
"Through this agreement, Legacy Traditional Schools in Arizona commits to make its education programs equally available to English Learner students and to ensure that parents with limited English proficiency can meaningfully participate in their children’s education," Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon voiced in a statement published on the Department of Education's website. Legacy Traditional Schools also released a statement to ABC15, arguing their previous commitment to student diversity and academic success, and noting the review by the OCR was proactive rather than reactive, as it was not precipitated by complaints from students or families.
The resolution is seen not only as an action plan to rectify explicit oversights but as a broader commitment to inclusivity within the educational landscape. By upholding their end of the resolution agreement, LTS firmly positions itself within the framework of civil rights, acknowledging past lapses while paving a way forward to a more equitable academic environment for all students, regardless of linguistic background.
