The Arizona Department of Education has been found to be in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Educational Opportunities Act. The Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, and the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, conducted an investigation and determined that tens of thousands of English Language Learner (ELL) students had been misidentified as Initially Fluent English Proficient (IFEPs) or exited from ELL services without sufficient English proficiency in reading and writing.
As a result of the investigation, the Arizona Department of Education has entered into a settlement agreement that requires the state to provide targeted reading and writing intervention services to tens of thousands of ELL students who were prematurely exited or incorrectly identified as IFEPs over the past five school years.
The agreement also requires the Arizona Department of Education to develop proficiency criteria that accurately identify and exit ELL students. The Department of Justice and the Department of Education are committed to ensuring that all students receive equal opportunities and are entitled to an education that meets their needs.
With the cooperation of the Arizona Department of Education and Arizona school districts, the investigation found that the state’s ELL policies and programs had significant flaws. This led to the misidentification and premature exit of tens of thousands of ELL students, which is in violation of the law.
The Arizona Department of Education has agreed to voluntarily resolve the matter and provide the necessary services to the affected students. The investigation and settlement highlight the importance of ensuring that all students receive equal opportunities and are entitled to an education that meets their needs.
Defendant: Arizona Department of Education
Criminal Charges: Violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Educational Opportunities Act
City and State: Phoenix, Arizona
Date: 2023-06-XX
Sentence: Settlement agreement
Dollar Amount: $0 (no fine or penalty)
Related Federal Cases
- Jerry Enomoto, Civil Rights Violation, California 1960 · Arizona
- Martin Rene Duran, Civil Rights Violation, California 2018 · Illinois
- Brandon T. Greenfield-Logan, Civil Rights Violation, Washington District of Columbia 2021 · Washington
- Pima Community College, USERRA Violation, Arizona 2024 · Washington
- Josephus Tumulty, Education System Criticism, Arizona 1915 · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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