Basic English & Esl (2 Pk) / Instructional Third-grader Joseph whips through a math section on symmetry, which Lam approves based on his assurances. “He say, ‘Easy, Mommy,’ ” Lam said , switching to English from the Vietnamese the children learned first. She learned later that Joseph didn’t quite understand, nor fully complete, that evening’s homework. Guilford County Schools serves about 5,700 children who come from more than 80 countries. They speak 100 languages. They are refugees from war-torn nations. Children fleeing poverty. And, educators say, many already lag behind in their education.

Educators here and across the nation call that a major flaw in the federal No Child Left Behind Act , enacted in 2002. They want to see changes when legislators revise the law this year. As the federal measures stand , Guilford County schools fail miserably to reach these students. However, another test that educators call more appropriate shows Guilford at just above the state average in teaching these students English. And state officials gave Guilford high marks in an October audit of its program, which includes adult English and computer classes, translators at schools, and Saturday and summer school for students. The district wants to add more school-based interpreters and create a separate school for the students furthest behind in learning English. “If you’re not literate in your own language, then it’s a greater leap to build on the English language,” said Mary Allred, who helps Guilford teachers who work with students still learning English.

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